More than 160,000 children and adolescents in Cuenca will have access to the twelfth ludobiblioteca in Ecuador, which will be inaugurated on Friday, November 28 at 10:00 a.m. The new facility is located at the Museo y Parque Arqueológico Pumapungo on Calle Larga and Avenida Huayna Cápac.
The project received public and private funding totaling USD 71,533. It aims to benefit approximately 163,128 young people in the area by helping them develop skills, creativity, and critical thinking through play and reading.
The initiative is part of the Ludobiliotecas project led by Fundación Unidos por la Educación (UxE) and aligns with Ecuador’s National Policy for Promoting Reading, Orality, and Access to Books (2024-2030). The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture supports this policy in cooperation with the Biblioteca Nacional Eugenio Espejo. Funding was provided mainly by Fundación CRISFE as the principal sponsor, with additional support from Corporación/Fundación Favorita and Corporación El Rosado.
With this new addition, there are now twelve ludobibliotecas across different provinces designed to promote reading through play as well as connections with art, recreation, imagination, and enjoyment. Another ludobiblioteca is planned to open in Esmeraldas before the end of 2025.
To prepare the Museo y Parque Arqueológico Pumapungo location for its new role as a ludobiblioteca, renovations were made to its interior spaces. New furniture was designed and produced for the site. The space has also been equipped with a collection of books, educational materials, art kits, and technological equipment.
A specific agreement was established with Universidad Nacional de Educación (UNAE) for developing “taptanita,” an ancestral Cañari mathematical tool that will serve as representative didactic material within the ludobiblioteca’s collection.
The Ludobibliotecas project has national ambitions aiming to reach all 24 provinces in Ecuador. This effort relies on collaboration between public and private sectors along with tax incentives such as a 150% income tax deduction for cultural sponsorships.
“The Ludobiblioteca Museo y Parque Arqueológico Pumapungo will be a vital center for learning and recreation for our children and youth,” states the release.
Operating hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
“These actions are proof that when public and private sectors unite toward a common goal great social transformations can be achieved,” according to those involved in the initiative.
