- ATD Fourth World

Street libraries or doorstop libraries play an essential role in the areas where children from extremely poor families live, be it at the foot of a stairwell of a decrepit building, be it in the front yard of a shack in a shantytown, be it in the open countryside within the surrounding rural area of an isolated house inhabited by an extremely poor family. These libraries can be used both as a place to build friendships between the children themselves and the respective families, in addition to a building block in order to formulate links with the society from which they have been marginalised.

The libraries allow children to experience the pleasure that comes with reading, telling and making up stories, to experience diverse types of creative activities, to communicate with others via written correspondence or where possible, by using the Internet. These children get the chance to bounce knowledge and ideas off each other whilst at the same time, they help create a world with more enhanced friendships and greater peace.

ATD Fourth World also hopes to reach children and families cut off from cultural organs, children, more often than not having difficulty at school or who are unable to attend school regularly as they are excluded from this environment; in such cases, lack of education is a result of exclusion.

Street libraries or doorstop libraries are not a substitute for schools: ultimately, the responsibility for educating children lies with the school; they are however invaluable support aids for teachers and parents alike, due to the exposure they provide to the wonderful world of reading and culture.

Students, those new to the working world, mothers, pensioners, a wide host of people spare time at least once a week to share ideas and their passion for books and reading at these street libraries and doorstop libraries. This set-up also enables these helpers to comprehend the children’s hunger for education and learning and the courage and determination of their parents.