Hey Everyone! Here are the details of my most time consuming and expensive project. Please read and support the cause!
Project Title: Libraries for El Salvador
Project History: Libraries for El Salvador started 3 years ago with the initiative of two PCVs, a Rotary Club in Pensacola, FL and a Rotary Club here in San Miguel, El Salvador. The original project provided $400.00 worth of reading materials to 11 schools all over the country as well as a day-long training on library use and organization. SUCCESS!!! The American and Salvadoran Rotarians wanted to do it again but on a larger and more concentrated scale. They expanded the project to 22 libraries (affecting roughly 5,500 students) and focused on the Eastern half of the country (Departments San Miguel, Usulutan, Morazan and La Union). This is the poorest side of the country and the side most devastated by the war.
Project Details: The matching grant is between Sirama San Miguel Rotary Club in El Salvador (Primary Club) and Pensacola Cordova Rotary Club District 6940 (International Partner). Every school will receive $2,000.00 worth of Spanish language books (for research and enjoyment purposes), a bookshelf, and a day-long training for 3 students, 1 parents, 1 teacher, and their Peace Corps Volunteer. Rotary´s committment is to raise the money, purchase the books, organize transportation, receival, storage and distribution of the books and host the in-country training. The school´s committment is to attend the training, provide a secure home for the books, and incorporate library use into the school schedule and curriculum. The grant is written for $52,000.00 and we have raised $26,000.00.
Project Goals:
- Encourage the love of reading for both recreational and informational purposes. We will meet this goal by providing engaging and age-appropriate materials in Spanish. Some English language materials will be included to supplement the English curriculum. Schools will be encouraged to create reading promotion programs during school vacation and teachers will be trained in how to incorporate the library materials into their school curriculum.
- Inspire interest and understanding of library organization and use among Salvadoran stuents and their families. A day-long training in library organization and use will be provided for 1 teacher, 3 students, 1 parent and the Peace Corps Volunteer from each site. The students and parents will be held responsble for organizing and operating the library.
Project Timeline: The grant was written and submitted in September, 2008. The deadline for pledges is March 1, 2009. Once all money is received we will act quickly to purchase all materials, transport the books, and provide the training. We hope to have all libraries installed and in operation by October of this year.
How You Can Help: We´re looking for Rotary Clubs and others to participate in the grant with:
- Cash donations which the Rotary Foundation will match $0.50 per dollar.
- DDF Funds which the Rotary Foundation will match dollar per dollar.
Email your commitment to Belinda Zephir, President of the Cordova Club (BZephir@ci.pensacola.fl.us) and copy Carl Dickerson Jr. (cad_55@yahoo.com)
Thank you for your time and consideration! If you have more questions, please contact Carl or Belinda or me, Angie Supernaw (mongoose03@gmail.com).
