Sofia's Bookworm Store Grows Libraries

Hi, my name is Sofia, I am 11 years old and I am the proud founder of Sofia’s Bookworm Store. My project was born from my love of books. Have you ever been caught by a book that wouldn’t let go?

I’ve read lots of great books that I have absolutely loved, like James and the Giant Peach and Matilda, and Harry Potter, and Fantastic Beasts, and The Boy who Harnessed the Wind, and Jane Eyre, and…there are too many to mention!

The point is, because I love books so much, I want every child to have that experience, and when I went to Nicaragua three years ago, I learned that there are too many kids that don’t have any books, or even have access to any books!

So, I designed this project that is great for our planet, because it reuses resources and everybody involved gets something awesome out of it. I took my books in English that I had outgrown, and my friend’s books in English and I sold them . The kids here got to buy great books to love for very little money, and with every penny I raised I bought books in Spanish and sent them to a poor library in Nicaragua. I tried to buy as many books in Spanish as I could get my hands on. The kids in Nicaragua were so happy! So I did the sales three times and was able to raise over $2000 and used the funds to send over 600 books in Spanish, over 500 boxes of crayons, hundreds of school supplies, and more. I have helped a library, two rural schools, and a project needing resources to keep kids off the streets.

I’m happy to say that I went to the school in La Reyna, in Boaco Viejo, in Nicaragua this year. I took them books, and school supplies, as well as maps, and dictionaries, and all kinds of learning materials, and creative toys. The kids couldn’t wait to read the books, and the teachers said they felt so happy they felt like they had won the lottery because they had no books, or world maps, or dictionaries.

Now, I want to build them a library, get more books to them and build them a space where they can go read and gain that love for reading and knowledge. Someone has already agreed to donate the bricks and the sand, and an architect already designed the little library for us. The parents in the community have already signed up to help with the construction.

You might be wondering why I’ve chosen this town, well, it’s because these kids really need it, but also because a long time ago, my great great aunt was a teacher and with the help of the entire town built, the town’s first school. They did not have resources, it was very hard for them to achieve this beautiful goal, but they all worked together and made it happen. Now, this small school in this poor rural community bears my great great aunt’s name, Salvadora Castillo, and it needs all our help to build this little library to give the kids the chance to learn to love a book.