At a recent Global Travelers meeting, member Elana Levens-Craig presented the Guatemala Literacy Project global grant. Her enthusiasm for this important work is infectious. You can view her full presentation here.
Grants are an important part of our Global Travelers mission. Each year, we lead at least one global or district international grant. In addition, we collaborate with other clubs on their international grants. One way we choose among the many collaboration requests that we receive is grants where our club members have participated. Three of our associate members — Elana Levens-Craig, Amy Nicholson, and David Abramsky — have all traveled with the Guatemala Literacy Project. This year, our club is contributing $1,000 to this effort.
The Guatemala Literacy Project’s (the GLP’s) mission is to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala, with the ultimate goal of breaking the cycle of poverty for them and their families entirely.
The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is one of the largest grassroots, multi-club, multi-district projects in Rotary. More than 800 clubs and 90 districts have been working together since 1997 to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala. In that time, more than 295,000 students have been served through four sustainable programs that are tested and proven to work.
Rural Guatemala is one of the poorest and least educated places in the western hemisphere. 80% of people live in poverty, and 1 out of 3 is illiterate. Almost 2/3 of children aren’t educated past 6th grade because their family needs them to work. The high school graduation rate for impoverished Guatemalans is about 10%.
The programs established by the Guatemala Literacy Project have made a huge difference in quality of life and outcomes for Guatemalan children. The program provides textbooks where there were none. It provides computer labs and training for 14,000 students a day. Many of these students go on to find jobs that require computer skills.
The SPARK reading program teaches kids to read better, faster, and earlier.
The RISE student scholarship program identifies students who are at risk of dropping out (usually because of financial pressure on their families) and connects them with a sponsor. The program provides both financial support and wraparound services. Currently, 930 students are in the RISE program, which has increased high school graduation rates among its participants by 90%.
Rotary Global Travelers have the opportunity to join Rotarians from around the country on a Guatemala Literacy Trip next February. You’ll get to meet local people, participate in education events with the children, and enjoy the sights of Guatemala. Your fellow Rotarians — Elana, Amy, and David — all give the trip high praise.
This trip tends to fill quickly so if you are interested, you should act quickly. Learn more here.
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