In April 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador, killing 654 people and injuring over 12,000. In the aftermath of the quake, nearly 30,000 people were left homeless. Coastal towns bore the brunt of this damage, which was particularly debilitating for communities living in or near Manta, Portoviejo and Pedernales.
For the people of Coaque, the earthquake served to shed light on the isolation and chronic neglect that had long-plagued their communities and contributed to their marginalization. It was a devastating blow to communities that had been historically under-resourced, resulting in the destruction of homes, churches, community centers, hospitals and schools.
Despite efforts to rebuild after the disaster, life had yet to return to normal in Coaque even after a year had passed. The was a particularly damning reality for children, many of whom had not returned to school and had no alternatives to continue their educations.
Recognizing their need, BUILD contacted Libraries Without Borders to establish a digital library program in Coaque, which would provide students and parents with access to educational resources to foster informal learning opportunities.