Story Garden on the road in rural New Mexico!
For nine years now, Story Garden at the Gallup, New Mexico, Flea Market has been a gathering space for people from a vast rural expanse. But not every family can travel to Gallup, and for those who can, months may go by before they can make the trip again.
So, since August, our Story Garden team has been going mobile! Story Garden on Wheels meets people outside their home, in the heart of their community, for a time of learning, creativity and connection.
But to fully respond to families’ hopes, we’ve needed to think bigger: a mobile learning van that can travel throughout our rural region and connect families’ knowledge and curiosity to the world beyond.
Your gift today will go directly towards purchasing a cargo vanand transforming it into a mobile learning unit. In addition, thanks to a matching gift pledge of $25,000, all donations received will be doubled until we reach our goal!
Donate & Double Your Gift Today
During a mobile Story Garden visit in Navajo Nation last October, one family shared with us their knowledge and curiosity on a vast range of topics: octopuses, National Parks, the Great Wall of China, world cultures and religions, and others. There was a whirlwind of interest in the world around us!
We had traveled the three hours from Gallup with as many books and materials as could fit in the car, but we felt deeply what was missing.
We had:
many books, but not on the topics discussed that day
a tablet, but no internet
a smartphone, but no cell signal
plenty of outdoor space, but no shade from the desert sun and wind
The thirst for exploring the questions and places of the world was vibrant, but the tools to explore them were limited.
A new idea evolved: What if we could bring more of the world right to families’ doorsteps? What if families could take their knowledge and learning into their own hands, by having access to the tools and space to do so?
The Story Garden van idea took shape that day.
Your donation will help purchase and customize a new cargo van, equipped with WiFi, tablets, mobile solar panels, a vast range of books and art materials, and a sunshade to create a comfortable gathering space in the heart of rural communities.
This van will bring a variety of activities for families to choose from:
Painting, drawing and clay
Learning Kits on academic subjects
Books in English, Navajo, Zuni and Spanish
Tablets with WiFi
Photography and scrapbooking
Toys and educational games
Other resources that respond to families’ thirst to build knowledge
Families in rural New Mexico know better than most what the opportunity gap looks like, and how the digital divide leaves them behind. Yet, they have not given up on giving their children the best chance to learn and grow. Your support will help us join them in their efforts.
Thank you for considering a contribution in any amount you are able at this time. With your help, we’ll be ready to hit the road soon with our community’s new learning van!
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This photo was taken on the way to a family's home in Navajo Nation.
ATD Fourth World reaches families from the vast rural area of Northwest New Mexico and Northeast Arizona. The region is rich in deep-rooted knowledge and values. Yet, our area lacks opportunities for families to build on their strong commitment to their children’s learning.
Access to learning opportunities is limited by distance and resources: broadband service is not available for many families and is slower and more expensive than in the rest of the US; there is no cell coverage over large areas of land; many families get by without electricity at their home; services like public libraries are far from many homes and some families do not have vehicles that can travel long distances.
Story Garden on Wheels is one way to help bridge these inequalities and support families and teachers in their efforts to nurture learning among children.