Who are we?
Free Range Imagination is a US-based nonprofit organization currently operating as a fiscally sponsored project of Beyond the Surface International while our own 501(c)(3) status is pending. We work with youth primarily in rural communities in Mexico and Peru with plans to eventually expand to other areas of Latin America.
What is our mission?
We work collaboratively with communities to explore new possibilities by using imaginative education and play as a vehicle for critical conversations.
Why start with imagination?
We believe in the transformative power of imagination. Throughout human history, imagination has always sparked innovation, growth and creative problem solving. It’s foundational to our humanity and it allows us to create and shape our own realities as we reimagine the world around us.
What does that look like on the ground?
Opening a world of possibilities looks very much like project based learning with one added ingredient (see, “What sets us apart from other organizations?”).
Our partnerships with local organizations and community leaders create quality programming and, in some cases, permanent spaces such as reading rooms, libraries and community centers for children to learn through fun, explorative play. These programs make room for children to acquire and strengthen educational skills (i.e. reading, writing, math etc.) but also non-traditional skills (imagination, introspective reflection and critical thinking).
What sets us apart from other organizations?
Two core beliefs set us apart. First, we believe in the transformative power of imagination. As discussed earlier under “Why start with imagination?”, we see imagination as a cornerstone in the evolution of humanity. Its importance needs to be actively acknowledged and fostered to ensure the continual growth of an individual, a community and in turn the world.
Second, and most importantly, is the philosophical backbone which guides how we operate and conduct ourselves in any interaction. This philosophy is the result of a lifetime of learning and growing and most closely parallels the teachings of Brazilian educator and philosopher Paulo Freire expressed in the book Pedagogy of the Oppressed. We strive to listen with the intent to understand and use imaginative, explorative play as a vehicle for conversations that explore possibilities yet to be found. In doing so, what is changes into what can be.
We have so much more to say on this one. Click below to read blog posts about the this very topic.
What happened to Cuentos Compartidos?
We’re still here!
For the past year and a half, we’ve been operating under our local project name, “Cuentos Compartidos” (Shared Stories).
Although sharing stories and a love of reading is still a big part of what we do, we felt that the name “Free Range Imagination” better captures what is at the heart of our organization and what makes this work both critically important and also such a joy to do.
Free Range Imagination is committed to facilitating opportunities for kids to chase their curiosity, imagine, create and explore the world around them.
Whether that looks like poring over the illustrations of a fabulous fantasy book, using electronic components to harness the power of the wind or discovering the magical world tucked inside a tiny tide pool, the objective is the same: to open a world of possibilities by cultivating spaces where imagination and creativity can run free.
