There are spaces that keep books. Others preserve memories. And there are those that become true engines of social progress. The BCI Media Library – Joaquim Chissano Space is one of those places.
On the afternoon of 9 June, the historic building in downtown Maputo reopened its doors after a process of renovation and modernisation, reinforcing its mission of promoting access to knowledge, culture and social inclusion. The reopening ceremony was a reaffirmation of a vision that has accompanied BCI since its earliest years: the conviction that investing in people is one of the most lasting ways of contributing to the country's development.
Today, the Media Library appears with new facilities and better conditions to welcome students, researchers, teachers, artists and all those who look to knowledge as a tool for progress. Training rooms, workshops, exhibitions, talks and book launches join social support programmes for women, children and young people.
Among the initiatives announced are school support programmes for pupils in vulnerable situations, the provision of nutritious snacks and the support of nursing professionals for health and well-being advice. This is an integrated approach that recognises that learning depends not only on access to books but also on adequate conditions in which to grow.
On the occasion, BCI's Chairman of the Executive Committee, Francisco Costa, recalled that the renovation symbolises the continuity of a commitment made almost three decades ago to education, culture, social inclusion and the sustainable development of Mozambique.
The occasion also featured an address by Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic, who stressed the importance of knowledge as an instrument of individual and collective transformation. Addressing the young people, Chissano said: "The future of Mozambique will be determined by how your generation prepares itself to face the challenges of the contemporary world. Knowledge is not acquired by chance. It demands discipline, perseverance, curiosity and the will to learn every day".
For his part, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário, Chairman of BCI's Board of Directors, recalled that the creation of the Media Libraries stems from a pioneering vision of the Bank's founders, who understood early on that a financial institution can play a significant role in building a better-prepared and more inclusive society.
Opened in 1997, the BCI Media Library established itself as much more than a reading space. It became a place of discovery, growth and sharing. The vision expanded to Beira, Nampula and Ilha de Moçambique, giving rise to a network that today offers more than 17,000 titles and technological infrastructure that promotes digital inclusion and access to knowledge.
The ceremony brought together artists, writers, students, academics, business people, journalists, diplomats, sportspeople and figures from national political life, among others, united by the conviction that knowledge remains one of the most important levers for progress.
Because nations are built with roads and buildings, but they are consolidated, above all, through the knowledge of their people.
