Students at Unidad Educativa República de Bolivia commemorated the 100th anniversary of Efraín Jara Idrovo’s birth with civic activities that highlighted his literary contributions. The event included displays and readings from the works of the Ecuadorian poet, aiming to encourage appreciation for his writing within the school community.
María José Moyano, Undersecretary of Education, Sports, and Culture in Quito, attended the event and stated: “We honor the cultural memory of Ecuador, that living heritage which is transmitted through words and strengthens our identity as a nation. Literature is history, thought, and sensitivity; it is where our roots and aspirations meet.”
These activities are part of efforts to foster reading habits, critical thinking, and educational projects focused on national literature. They align with the implementation of Ecuador’s National Policy for Promoting Reading, Orality, and Access to Books (2024–2030), which is led by the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture through its Vice Ministry of Culture.
Efraín Jara Idrovo was born in Cuenca in 1926. He is known for his poem “Sollozo por Pedro Jara,” written after the early death of his son. In 1999 he received Ecuador’s Eugenio Espejo National Prize for his literary career. Besides being a poet, he worked as a researcher, writer, university professor, and teacher.
The civic ceremony was held across all schools in Quito with various activities such as literary reviews, sharing excerpts from Jara Idrovo’s poetry and essays, dramatized readings, student exhibitions, poetry recitals, and art inspired by his work.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to promoting recognition of Efraín Jara Idrovo’s literary legacy as part of strengthening Ecuador’s cultural identity and historical memory.
