ROTARIANS in Warwick have been hearing about a project in Guatemala which helps children to read.
Caroline Stanton of the Rotary Club of Southam 2000 paid a visit to her neighbouring rotary club to tell them all about the Guatemala Literacy Project.
It is one of Rotary International’s largest projects. Initiated in 1997 it now involves over 800 clubs in 99 districts across the USA, Canada, Caribbean and UK, and helps to improve education for the most under-served students in Guatemala.
Some 63,000 pupils were helped in the last year in 376 schools and illiteracy has halved over the last 30 years.
In that time over 320,000 students have been helped by four sustainable projects which have been tested and proved to work. Caroline’s father, John Stanton, got involved in the programme over 10 years ago, and they have taken several trips to the country delivering books and other teaching materials.
Over one third of people in rural Guatemala cannot read or write, without which they cannot progress in the modern world. The Literacy Project takes a comprehensive approach and had to start by training people to teach. In three generations, the project has developed indigenous Guatemalans from using a thumbprint, to signing, to using the internet..
Sixty per cent of jobs in Guatemala now require computer skills and the programme has brought computers to middle schools enabling indigenous young people to transform their lives and support their families. When money is tight often girls get left behind and the programme helps everyone to progress.
A small rental fee per student ensures a book replacement programme, and after 100 hours of classes over three years, students are achieving results in obtaining jobs in modern businesses.
Companies like Pizza Express, Pepsi and Microsoft also support the programme. A small number of students are identified for scholarships and get supported to reach their potential in higher education.
After the talk, Warwick Rotary president elect Rachel Hinton presented Caroline with a cheque for the Guatemala Literacy Project.
