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Literacy Project
Volunteers help shape the breadth and scope of Project Amigo’s
successful projects. Ten years ago, Boise Sunrise Rotarian Bev
Pressman, a child literacy expert, participated on a winter work
week. One of the activities involved taking books to read to
children in Colima area orphanages and rural schools. At the end of
the activity, volunteers gathered up the books and returned to our
headquarters. Observing that these facilities didn’t have fun
children’s books on hand. Bev asked why we didn’t leave
the books for the children to continue to enjoy. Good question.
With that observation and question, Project Amigo added a new focus
to its third mission (To build relationships between Rotarians from
the US and Canada and Rotarians from Mexico) – and that was a
focus on literacy that Rotary Clubs could do in collaboration and
cooperation with Colima area Rotary Clubs.
Over the years, Rotary Clubs in the US, Australia and Canada have
partnered with Colima area Rotary Clubs to contribute to Rotary
Foundation Matching Grants that purchase mini-libraries of fun
children’s books and books that the children can keep for
their very own. Rotarian and non-Rotarian volunteers work with the
Colima area Rotary Clubs to deliver the books and mini-libraries to
poor rural schools in Colima and southern Jalisco.
Thousands of children each year experience the fun and joy of
reading; and teachers report noticeable changes in children’s
attitudes toward learning, in their creativity, and in their
vocabularies.
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Reading Together
Families participate in Literacy service weeks. Paul Crane (15
years old) listens to young student reading, offering praise and
encouragement to the child's effort.
The Library
Steel book case contains 200 fun children's books. More than
307 mini-libraries have been delivered to rural schools since the
literacy initiative began.
The desire to learn
Bringing books to primary school children has an added benefit.
The children share them with younger siblings -- and even with
their parents -- to further promote reading and desire to learn.
Mini Libraries
Children flock to the mini-libraries, eager to select a book to
read with visiting Rotarians.
Book Inventory
Colima Rotarians and Ukraine Rotary Youth Exchange student work
with visitors to sort books and add bookplates that identify the
co-sponsoring Rotary Clubs and The Rotary Foundation as the
donors of the books.
Sorting Books
Frankfort (KY) Rotarian Joyce Honaker helps create book inventory
lists for each mini-library.
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