Livingston Sunrise Rotarian Travels with the Guatemala Literacy Project to Help Impoverished Schools.
From February 3-February 11, a Livingston Sunrise Rotarian, Dr. Janet Burns, traveled with 30 other Rotary volunteers from 4 Clubs in Canada and 9 Clubs in the USA to Guatemala to participate in the Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP). The GLP is a partnership between Rotary Clubs in North America and Guatemala, The Rotary International (RI), and the nonprofit Cooperative for Education (CoEd) to promote literacy through education in Guatemala. The partnership accomplishes this mission by providing sustainable educational tools (like textbooks, reading books, and technology), teacher training, and scholarships to students in Guatemala’s Central and Western Highlands. In addition, there were opportunities to experience the beauty of Guatemala and the richness of its culture; learn about Guatemalan history, traditions, foods, culture, and current events; and shop in artisan’s markets featuring some of the exquisite handcrafted items in the area.
In over 20 years of existence, CoEd and the GLP have funded 194 middle school textbooks, 46 computer centers, and 80 primary schools with the Spark program. There are almost 25,000 children who now have textbooks with over 123,000 textbooks in circulation, over 13,000 students receiving technology training in computer centers, and more than 17,000 students in the Spark program. Over 600 Rotary Clubs around the world have participated in the GLP, making it the largest multi-club, multi-district project in Rotary that is not directed by RI. In 2017, there were one hundred thirty nine (139) Rotary Clubs who participated in the GLP.
For more information, please check out the GIP website at: www.guatemalaliteracy.org or www.cooperativeforeducation.org.