This project provides 440 girls a better education by building a love and habit for reading and computers at 11 community-managed libraries through educational activities and involving parents.
Guatemala has the highest illiteracy and school dropout rates in Central America, especially among indigenous women in rural villages. School is only 4 hours per day, with 40% of students not passing 1st grade. Our Girl Reader project focuses on educating rural indigenous girls because studies show that when you educate girls through 5th grade they will have healthier, smaller, better educated families. "Reading daily with my daughter taught me to be a better mother" -- Josefina Diaz
We deliver a learning oasis of fun, educational story hours and book clubs, debate teams, computer training, community volunteer activities, book lending, and training for parents in 6 fundamental techniques for early childhood development.
This project will ensure 440 girls and young teens are prepared to overcome social and economic challenges, with improved communication, reading, and critical thinking skills, enabling them to be better leaders in their families and communities.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Partner that funded 2 new Riecken libraries
Partner—Riecken co-founded the Guatemala chapter
Library in San Juan la Laguna highlighted by UNESC
Facebook page for Riecken Guatemala