This is the story of a collective called La Chiva Loca, whose dedication and self-management have brought literature to the forefront in their town. Now, they are exchanging experiences across Latin America.
Gloria Niño and Ricardo Torres are two Spanish language teachers who have been working with the children of Sibaté for over 20 years, promoting reading and writing skills within their community.
“In the San José neighborhood, children had no tutoring support for their homework, no library nearby, and had to walk about a mile and a half to the town center to access a study space. So, we decided to open our library to them and started assisting children on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., also allowing them to borrow books.”
Their sensitivity and keen observation led them to recognize cases of animal mistreatment, which eventually motivated them to turn their space into a refuge and a safe haven for those without a voice.
“Then we saw the need to help sentient beings. In the neighborhood, many puppies were abandoned, and when they were female, they were drowned in the lagoon. So, we decided to raise awareness about environmental and animal protection. Caring for animals is not just about dogs and cats but about all beings with whom we share our territory.”
This organization has led multiple educational and legal initiatives, using their experience to drive structural changes in cultural, environmental, and human rights matters. They consider literature one of the most powerful tools for social transformation.
What began as a small dream in the mountains now travels across Latin America, exchanging ideas. They have represented Colombia in the Ibero-American Meetings on Pedagogical Experiences in Venezuela (2007), Mexico (2015 and 2017), and Argentina (2024).
“A people who do not read will not have the tools they need. That’s why it is so important for people to learn to read and write… This year, we are part of the Voz Pa’ Colombia project with teachers from the Netherlands, and in 2027, we will once again participate in the pedagogical experiences meeting in Brazil, where we are part of the organizing network.”
La Chiva Loca’s story shows that creativity and perseverance are key to achieving dreams in a country like Colombia.
“Our dream is to continue deepening our work in children’s literature by creating a play library for the youngest children, fostering a love for literature and art from early childhood.”
