“Tiramos la Biblio por la Ventana 2026”: Communities That Read, Connect, and Transform Together

ConTextos – El Salvador

In communities shaped by social fragmentation and disconnection, our partner ConTextos launched the sixth edition of “Tiramos la Biblio por la Ventana” (We Threw the Library Out the Window) — an initiative that marks International Book Day each year by strengthening a culture of reading in El Salvador. Public and community spaces are transformed into gathering points for reading, dialogue, and connection.

What began in 2021 with around 300 participants has grown into a national movement. In 2026, it reached more than 14,186 people across 117 locations in 10 of El Salvador’s departments, made possible by the dedication of more than 729 teachers, principals, and volunteers. This edition brought together 12,344 children and adolescents, 1,262 parents and guardians, and 474 teachers across 116 events held in schools, parks, theaters, shopping centers, and other community spaces.

Beyond the numbers, the initiative created meaningful moments: people reading aloud, communities gathering around books, and new allies discovering that reading can be a way to build bonds, trust, and collective hope. The 2026 edition centered the ideas of togetherness and connection, using reading as a bridge to more empathetic and resilient communities.

One of the most valuable elements of this edition was the collaboration with allied organizations, some of them part of FCA’s network in El Salvador, including Muchas Más and Leer Para Soñar, who joined this national movement for reading and social cohesion. These partnerships reflect the power of collective effort to amplify impact and strengthen communities through collaboration.