What we do
Planting seeds
for future thinking
OFELIA’s approach is grounded in a holistic vision of community development. Beyond repositories of books and toys, our libraries are vibrant hubs designed to cultivate leaders, empower children, youth, and women, uplifting the entire community.
Our strategy is designed to support not only literacy but the holistic development of rural communities, grounded in inclusion, culture, and sustainability.
Here’s how we bring that vision to life:
1.
Listen & Co-Create
We begin with the community—assessing needs, honoring aspirations, and building every step together to ensure cultural relevance and local ownership.
2.
Design for Learning
Our libraries are sustainable, inclusive, and filled with resources that spark curiosity—books, toys, and programs for all ages and learning styles.
3.
Empower Through Education
From digital skills to youth leadership and teacher training, we offer tools and opportunities that foster lifelong learning and local impact.
4.
Sustain & Scale
We grow through strong partnerships, community-led models, and continuous evaluation—ensuring each library inspires lasting change and global replication.
Our Guiding Principles
Community
First
We center the voices, needs, and leadership of local communities in every step of the journey.
Inclusive
& Culturally Rooted
We create welcoming spaces that honor local cultures and ensure access for all.
Transparent
& Evolving
We stay accountable, adapt with purpose, and grow through community feedback.
Learning
for Life
We promote lifelong learning through inclusive, creative, and skill-building programs.
Powered by
Partnerships
We build strong collaborations across sectors to amplify impact, share knowledge, and sustain our mission.
Sustainable
by Design
We commit to eco-friendly practices and long-term impact from the ground up.
Our Projects
From remote villages to urban crossroads, our projects transform libraries into engines of opportunity. Built with and for local residents, they blend reading, digital inclusion, arts, and leadership programs—centering children, youth, and women. Dive into each story to see how culture is preserved, skills grow, and communities lead.
Venezuela
Canaima Community Library & Cultural Center
With the support of Ville de Genève, we’re building Canaima’s first library, playroom, and cultural hub with the Pemón Kamarakoto community—pairing books with digital literacy and materials in the local language. Educators are trained, a site is secured, and 75% of startup costs are funded.
Venezuela
San Juan de Colón Library & Cultural Hub
Born from a children’s orchestra, this library now supports 130+ kids, including neurodiverse learners, with music, literacy, arts, life skills, and women’s leadership. It’s a safe, creative shield against exclusion and it’s outgrowing its walls. Next up: expanding space, books, tech, and instruments.
Ecuador
Empowering Zumbahua
In the Andes, we’re transforming the local library into an e-learning and entrepreneurship hub. Twenty-two youth leaders—especially young women—train in communication, leadership, digital skills, and business basics, with six months of mentorship. The ripple effect reaches over 12,000 residents.
Pilot Laboratory for Languages, Cultures and Intercultural Dialogue — Grand-Saconnex, Geneva - Switzerland
Maison OFELIA — House of Languages
A heritage farmhouse becomes a multilingual, intercultural, intergenerational library—complete with reading rooms, digital labs, cultural programs, and a shared garden. Designed with residents to bridge access and belonging, La Maison OFELIA is set to open in 2027.
Your impact starts here
Every contribution lights a path. With your support, OFELIA can reach more learners, spark more curiosity, and build brighter futures. Big or small, your gift helps us turn possibility into progress.
