Ciranda do Saber has transformed access to reading in vulnerable communities in various regions of the country. Founded in 2017 and entirely led by Meire Nascimento since 2018, the project was born with the proposal to bring the book closer to people who live with a lack of libraries and cultural facilities. Ciranda’s mission is based on a simple idea: reading changes lives and strengthens communities.
This reality gains relevance when observed alongside worrying data. The sixth edition of the Portraits of Reading in Brazil survey shows that 53% of the population is not considered a reader. In many areas, the absence of books and reading spaces makes access even more difficult.
Over the years, Ciranda do Saber has donated over two hundred thousand books and received two nominations for the Jabuti Prize. The project operates in public schools, daycares, indigenous villages, quilombos, hospitals and community library networks. Actions include storytelling, workshops, conversation circles and the establishment of libraries that encourage the habit of reading from childhood.
The operating model combines social impact and sustainability. The organization receives books from individuals, businesses and publishers. Part of the works is distributed to libraries and educational activities and another part is sold or sent for recycling to maintain the necessary activities and logistics. This approach also reinforces the project’s environmental commitment.
For Meire Nascimento, the strength of the initiative lies in the transformation that occurs when children have access to books. According to her, “when a child discovers the power of words, an entire country begins to change.”
Faced with increasing demand and the challenge of reaching more distant territories, Ciranda seeks to expand partnerships with institutions, businesses and social organizations. These collaborations can strengthen the project structure, expand libraries and offer reading activities to new audiences.
The Ciranda do Saber journey shows that reading can create opportunities, strengthen identities and broaden horizons in regions where access to culture is still limited.
To find out more: www.cirandadosaber.com.br @projetocirandadosaber
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