Help me to show in an international meeting the great project we have done, in spite of the actual Venezuela

As many of you know, Venezuela is under the worst crisis in its republican history, and the universities have not escaped from this complex humanitarian emergency. Even thought, good things are still happening too. That’s why I come to you asking for your support.

We were invited to an international meeting to talk about the extraordinary project we have done at the Simon Bolivar University, and our experience with it, but we can not afford the trip.

I’m a professional of technology, mainly creating solutions and managing projects for mobile industry. All my projects have been innovative, challenging and first time done in my area. But I also love arts, literature and books in equal measure. Lately, I’ve moved to cultural world addressing artistic and cultural projects. It’s the latest one I would like to share with you, where I've joined these two worlds.

Sustainable, artistic, cultural and social

Today, I'm the creator and leader of a beautiful project around a very special and unique books at the Library of the Simon Bolivar University (USB), my alma mater. This project includes an innovative exhibition called “READING, SOLIDARITY AND CARDBOARD COVERS. A transmedia exhibition of Eloisa Cartonera books” , where different media are used to bring information, and people with visual disability are integrated into the experience at the same time as people without.

Cartonera books are handmade books with covers of recycled cardboard, bound by hand and hand painted, to be sold in general at a low price making literature accessible. Cartoneras are small publishing houses of cartonera books. Eloísa Cartonera (Argentina) is the publishing house founder of this artistic, cultural, social, ecological and very dynamic movement, originated in 2003 with its creation, that now has been spread all over the world.

Very innovative project

A set of more than twenty books from Eloísa Cartonera were donated to the Library of the Simon Bolivar University, giving origin to the creation of the exhibition and the hole project that includes the following features:

- People visually impaired are integrated for first time in Venezuela into a hole exhibition experience simultaneously: Braille printed labels next to ink printed labels, tactile elements and audio content.

- A web based audio guide was developed , which was the first audio guide made in Venezuela for an exhibition. It includes audios, photos from the exhibition and texts displayed on dyslexic friendly font.

- Multiple platforms are used for the first time in Venezuela for the whole exhibition information: Physical elements, posters and labels; digital content as videos, texts, pictures and audio reached through QR codes; social 2.0 counts associated to the exhibition. People are becoming active participants on the exhibition, not just visitors.

- Several activities were carried out as talks, workshops and a documental projection.

Great things must be shared

Because of these features, I was invited to participate in the 7th Cartonera Publishers International Meeting as a lecturer to present our transmedia and social inclusion project, and our experience with it, in the discussion panel on cartonera publishing houses development worldwide, their dissemination and experiences on digital and printed world.

This international meeting is going to be held in Santiago de Chile, next October 18th, 19th and 20th, by The Library of Santiago, institution who extended the invitation. But this invitation does not cover any type of expenses, and neither I nor the university can afford this trip. So, I come to you, appealing for a little help.

I have just few days to make it. I need your valuable support right now , any dollar counts .

There is a reward!

I have set the goal for this campaign at $1450, based on tickets and all travel expenses.

This campaign will be considered a success even if the amount collected is less than the one mentioned above, because if I cannot raise funds enough to travel, I will give what was collected to Simon Bolivar University Library. This year the Library's budget is 55$ !

On the other hand, all additional funds raised will go directly to the Library as well.

Even more, I’m also offering a reward: for each 100$ donation (or more) I will deliver a beautiful cartonera book with a Venezuelan poetry anthology in Spanish , which I’m compiling right now in order to be included into Eloisa Cartonera’s catalogue. Thus, this will be a special edition by my own with only 10 copies. The book will be sent physically to you in the manner we would agree on.

If you have any concerns or questions, feel free to reach out to me.

I count on you

Help me to expand knowledge and facilitate future collaborations for my university in this wonderful world of cartonera books, and to develop more innovative exhibitions. Help me to share with the world the great project we have done, it was made with a great effort and love in spite of the actual Venezuela. There are also people working hard overcoming obstacles and smiling too.

I can’t do this without you. Thanks for your support!

A big hug,

Magda

PD: If you want to know a little bit more, please navigate through the exhibition's Audioguide here: or check out our Twitter account @ExpoUSB.