What we do

We started with books and the library itself—a space designed for exchange, where knowledge is shared. This space is our key tool for driving bigger and more meaningful changes in the children and young people of the community. The library is the first step in shaping a path toward empowering every child.

Our strategy is based on five pillars:

1. Book: Providing quality books and library infrastructure
By donating selected literature books, mats, and bookcases, communities can manage and preserve their libraries (either staying inside local schools or having their own headquarters).

2. Mediator: Training reading aloud mediators
Connecting books to people by training families, educators, and community members as reading-aloud mediators. And training volunteers and local leaders to multiply Vaga Lume’s methodology.

3. Community Engagement: Supporting community engagement
Through identifying community leaders and volunteer mobilization, we support the community to create a sense of ownership to the libraries.

4. Local Culture: Treasuring local culture through the production of handmade books
Strengthening the culture of each community by encouraging the creation of an artisanal book made by the communities with local stories and tellings as a form of cultural heritage.

5. Cultural Exchange: Net Program
Fostering intercultural dialogue between young people from Amazon communities and schools and social organizations in Southeast Brazil. This experience allows them to share knowledge about their identities and communities.

  • More than 110,592 children and young people impacted since 2001
  • 177,858 books donated
  • 808 active volunteers in the Brazilian Legal Amazon
  • 5,074 teenagers have participated in the cultural exchange
  • More than 5,000 reading mediators trained
  • 27 Meetings and Congresses held with the volunteer network.