Verónica Abud Cabrera
Veronica Abud Cabrera is the Executive Director at Fundacion La Fuente. Veronica was previously a primary school teacher and has a masters in education. In 2000 she founded, along with her family, Fundacion La Fuente, a non-profit organization focused on the design and implementation of educational and cultural initiatives that bring benefits to vulnerable populations. She has carried out social projects regarding books and reading, especially building school libraries that are open to the community, mobile libraries, and public libraries located in shopping centers. She has also led the creation of cultural centers, designed to promote the enjoyment of the arts to audiences of all ages. In 2009 she was awarded the Schwab Foundation's Social Entrepreneurship Award for her Creating Tomorrow's Readers project, aimed at promoting reading. Currently, she is a board member of Fundacion Sociedad Anónima, a news agency aimed at making solidary action on civil society visible.
- Visit their website
- Fundación Educacional y Cultural La Fuente
- Model
- Hybrid Social Enterprise
- Sectors
- Education; Social Innovation; Human Rights
- Headquarters
- Chile
- Areas of Impact
- Latin America, Chile
Fundación Educacional y Cultural La Fuente
Fundación La Fuente developed the first public libraries in shopping centres throughout Chile. Known as Biblioteca Viva (living library), it is more than just a place that lends books. The library includes theatre, painting, movies and many other cultural activities.
Creando los Lectores del Mañana (Creating Tomorrow’s Readers), another important Fundación La Fuente programme, develops school, public and mobile libraries for students and communities. The focus of the programme is to introduce to a community, particularly its children, the pleasures of reading by providing materials that respect their interests and needs. The programme also trains school teachers and librarians in reading promotion activities and cultural development.
In general, Fundación La Fuente supports projects for one to two years. Once they are well established, they are handed over to local municipalities or school boards. It finances education projects through support from companies that are willing to invest in communities where they engage in business activities. Based on the organization’s experience, equipping cultural centres for students and adults is significant for the function of any educational programme. The creation of libraries in schools or public areas is aimed at improving the quality of life for many disadvantaged communities.
awardees
Our awardees
Wendy Kopp
Jacek Strzemieczny
