The 15th International Book Fair Santo Domingo, 2012 was launched

The 15th International Book Fair Santo Domingo, 2012 was launched
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, April 21, 2012

An institutional pavilion has been opened within the premises of the Santo Domingo book fair, for the purpose of informing citizens about the goals that have been achieved through the different programs that have been managed between 2004 and 2012 by the Office of the First Lady.

The Director of Communications, Alicia Custals, on behalf of Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández and the Office of the First Lady, launched the pavilion, which is called “Recorrido Solidario.” The work carried out by the First Lady and the DPD over the past eight years is being showcased there.

The Office of the First Lady (DPD), which is headed by Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, presents a fresh and different perspective this year. The aim is to showcase the goals achieved between 2004 and 2012 to the Dominican citizens during the 15th International Book FairSanto Domingo, 2012.

The pavilion has been set up so that visitors, especially young children and teenagers, can become familiar with the initiatives that have been undertaken through the following programs:Leyendo Aprendo (Learning by Reading), Progresando (Making Progress), Centros Tecnológicos Comunitarios (CTCs) (Community Technology Centers), Solidaridad Social (Social Solidarity), as well as the Unidad Ejecutora de Proyectos (Project Implementation Unit), using methods such asscaled models with explanatory literature, photographs, and book exhibits, among other things.

The Director of Communications, Alicia Custals, on behalf of Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández and the Office of the First Lady, launched the pavilion, which is called “Recorrido Solidario.” The work carried out by the First Lady and the DPD over the past eight years is being showcased there.

In the meantime, the director of the Children and Youth’s Library, Teresa Peralta, stated, “this year we are showcasing examples of all the projects and programs that our First Lady has been developing throughout the country, divided into specific areas, so that children, youngsters, and adults will be able to appreciate the contributions that have taken place through these programs.”

This is the eighth time that the Office of the First Lady has participated in the International Book Fair. The first time was in 2005 when it demonstrated what a community technology center is. During the years that followed, they presented pavilionssuch as “Mundo de los Valores” (World of Values), they exhibited the “Aulas Bibliotecas” (Library Classrooms), they recreated the new image of the Children’s Library of the Dominican Republic (BIJRD), and last year they offered the concept “Por Una Sociedad en Valores” (For a Society of Values).

During 2010, the Office of the First Lady was awarded the Freddy Gatón Arce Prize for its pavilion concept: “Music, an open door to reading.” This concept had already received recognitions in the past.

This year, through the magic of technology, visitors will be able to attend an animated presentation and take a virtual tour through every program, so that they can find out who are the beneficiaries of the programs sponsored by the Office of the First Lady by families, areas, and individuals.

In addition, one can visit the Office of the First Lady’s web portals and web pages, in particular the one on Transparency, on which all programs are described, as well as information on how the funds apportioned to that office are distributed.

This is the eighth time that the Office of the First Lady has set up thematic spaces through which it creates awareness,educates, and informs its visitors in an entertaining and colorful way.

Description of the Pavilion

A bookmobile unit will be stationed outside so that those interested in exploring the magic world of books will be able to do so in a fun way and have a fantastic experience that will allow them to go back home, full of motivation and a love for reading.

Inside, the Office of the First Lady’s pavilion is made up of four areas that are divided in the following manner: one devoted to “Progresando,” the program focused on the socio-educational area, which is non-welfare oriented and nonpartisan,through which low-income families are helped and empowered during the comprehensive and sustainable development process of its members. The “Árbol Progresando” (Tree of Progress), a model of the babies in the project, “Bebé piénsalo bien” (Baby Think It Over), and the Dominican Hand Crafts are being showcased in this space.

The objective of the area devoted to “Leyendo Aprendo” isto promote research, reading, and comprehensive training,and to support community literacy and educational development at the level of society as a whole. This exhibit showcases examples of Musical Band presentations, the Storytelling Grandmothers project, prints from the Children’s Library of the Dominican Republic (BIJRD), School Newspapers, the Excellence in Teaching Award, the Month of Patriotic Values, and Sister Schools.

Meanwhile, the Office of the First Lady’s Project Implementation and Social Solidarity Unit displayed the pink ribbon of the “Today is the Best Moment” campaign, in the form of scaled models of the façades of the Dr. Robert Reid Cabral’s Children’s Hospital, and the community technology centers, as well as testimonies and photographs that depict the medical actions that the facility performs.