Back in the U.S., América realized how fortunate we were to have public libraries and dreamed of building a rural library in Venezuela. She organized a board of directors to incorporate FUNDVEC and received 501(c)(3) status in February 2002; FUNDVEC was ready to embark on s mission of providing access to books in impoverished rural areas of Venezuela.

Biblioteca Pública El Páramo Opened in 2004
Biblioteca Publica El Páramo opened in Caserío El Páramo (pop. 1,279), Valle de la Pascua (Guárico State) on November 16, 2004 and currently serves the community six days a week with over 1300 books, 2 public-access computers, audio-visual learning media and educational workshops.

Click here to see a map of Venezuela Guárico State

Planting Seeds of Knowledge Bookcase Libraries Project Teaches Preschoolers to Learn
The Planting Seeds of Knowledge Bookcase Libraries Project was launched in March 2007 after the preschool from the town of La Fría (Táchira State) made a desperate appeal for children’s books. The project provides quality, age-appropriate books in a special hardwood bookcase library and involves rural parents and teachers alike to help their preschoolers learn to become good readers and be better prepared for primary school. The bookcase libraries hold 30 to 40 quality children’s books and are affordable.