Created in 2019, this program, developed in partnership between the Mission to Support the Peace Process in Colombia (MAPP/OEA) and the Bogotá International Book Fair, has delivered more than 14,600 books in the territories most impacted by armed violence, as well as in different prisons in the country.

The book reception centers, which will be located until May 2 at Corferias, the venue for the 35th edition of the Bogotá International Book Fair, as well as in other areas of the Colombian capital, have actively received donations from visitors throughout the event.

“'Donating a book is an act of Peace' is a campaign that helps encourage reading and its ability to transform social realities in the territories affected by the armed conflict. For this 2023, the MAPP/OEA and the FILBo will continue to promote it through a fourth edition, for which we invite citizens to join this campaign that encourages reading as an Act of Peace for Colombia,” said Roberto Menéndez, mission chief of the MAPP/OEA.

Stimulating Critical Thinking

With the aim of bringing as many books as possible to the Colombian territories affected by the internal armed conflict, crime and inequality, the campaign carries a message throughout Colombia in which the knowledge acquired through reading renews and stimulates critical thinking, vital to strengthen democracy and the construction of peace.

Through this campaign, the books have reached more than 60 local initiatives throughout the national territory, which have been in charge of distributing them in schools, social organizations and leaders, educators associations, community councils, youth groups, community centers, and libraries in rural areas.

Among the municipalities that have benefited, these ones stand out: Uribia, in Alta Guajira, Apartadó, Arauca, Barrancabermeja, Cali, Caucasia, Cúcuta, Florencia, Medellín, Montería, Ocaña, Pasto, Popayán, Puerto Asís, Quibdó, Nechí, Riosucio, San José del Palmar, San José del Guaviare, Sardinata, Teorama, La Macarena, Barbacoas, Tumaco, Valledupar, and Villavicencio.

For this fourth edition, Buenaventura was selected as one of the prioritized territories for the reception of books.

Llega la 4 edición de "Donar un Libro es un #HechoDePaz”, una oportunidad de regalar sonrisas e historias a niñas/os, adolescentes y personas privadas de la libertad en los territorios más afectados por el conflicto.

Así puedes donar tus libros https://t.co/UvaKr9lRZ2 pic.twitter.com/aJXsbMtMlx

— FeriadelLibroBogotá (@FILBogota) April 27, 2023

For their part, more than 3,000 books have been donated in prisons and penitentiaries, in places like Jamundí, La Dorada, and El Buen Pastor, as part of a strategy of resocialization and integration for people deprived of liberty, based on the promotion to reading, writing and education in places of confinement.

“For us, as representatives of the Colombian publishing sector, it is essential to continue strengthening the links between books and their readers, as well as to articulate the different initiatives that are taking place around the promotion of reading in the country. This campaign, which is now in its fourth edition, shows the genuine interest of the citizens, so that the words reach all corners of the country and from the Colombian Book Chamber, we will continue working to make it so," said Adriana Ángel Forero, director of Filbo.

International and Private Support

Since its inception, the initiative has had the support of embassies from countries such as Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, India, the United Kingdom and entities such as the National Center for Historical Memory.

Likewise, with the support of the company Servientrega, the MAPP/OEA will be in charge of delivering the books donated under the motto #MásLibrosMásPaz in rural and urban areas of Tumaco, Ocaña, Cauca, Cúcuta, Quibdó, San José del Guaviare, Putumayo, Arauca, Caucasia, Montería, Cali, Medellín, and Buenaventura.

The work carried out by the MAPP/OEA is possible thanks to the political and financial support of the member countries of the Basket Fund: Germany, Canada, Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as contributions from Norway and Switzerland.