For 11 years, a travelling library has been taking books to children and teenagers who have limited access to them. The Barco das Letras (Boat of Letters) project has already taken 72 thousand books, comic books, and magazines to over 12 thousand young people in 13 states, including students from public schools as well as riverside, indigenous, and quilombola residents.

“The idea stemmed from my outrage at seeing politicians neglect the communities that live in the Amazon rainforest,” says the initiative’s founder, Jonas Banhos, who is from Amapá state. “We decided to do our part and bring them the books. For people to be able to be critical of their reality and demand their rights, they need to read and seek knowledge.”

The books, comic books, and magazines come from donations and are taken to their destination by a team of volunteers. After they receive the books, the beneficiaries are encouraged to set up their own libraries in the area. “The community can be in the center of the forest and not have access to electricity, for example. The idea is not to build a place, but to have a space where the books can be accessed,” explains Jonas.

Eleven-year-old Rita F. lives in a riverside community in Afuá in Pará state. Residents are collecting funds to buy supplies and build a library. Meanwhile, a space was set up in one of the resident’s homes with books donated by Barca das Letras. “I have already read Harry Potter and many other books,” said Rita. “I hope the project brings more works.”

Musa G. from Ananindeua, in Pará state, is a 14 year old who was also given books. Although there is no library close to her home, she was able to read several texts thanks to the donations from Barca das Letras. “I have read Duck Tales, Mônica comic books, mangas… but the ones I really cannot give up are the Knights of the Zodiac and Duck Tales comic magazines.”

Questions

1) According to the text, how do young people get the books?
a) They are bought by Jonas Banhos.
b) The copies are donated.
c) The books are donated by the project’s volunteers.
d) The copies are donated by schools.

Correct answer: B

2) What do you think about the Barca das Letras project? Explain your answer.

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