 |
||
 |
|
 |
 |
||
|
"What travels fastest and cheapest over hundreds of miles of bad roads? Information." When social entrepreneur Allen Andersson created a foundation to build libraries in Central America, he said free and open access to information would sit at the core of its mission to promote literacy, self-learning, critical thinking and citizen participation. Today, Riecken Foundation libraries are not only filled with high-quality books chosen to meet the needs of individual communities, but they are also connected to the Internet, giving library users access to the planet's most dynamic repository of information and ideas. The Foundation distinguishes itself from similar development initiatives by the deep roots it plants in the communities where it operates. Riecken libraries - now more than 60 in number - are not simply buildings, they are vibrant pulse points supported by innovative programming, especially for children and youth. These spirited learning centers are a catalyst for sustainable change. |
