Guatemala Literacy Project

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Guatemala Literacy Project A partnership
between North American Guatemalan Rotary
clubs and the non-profit organization Cooperative
for Education
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What is the Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP)?

• A Rotary Club-sponsored initiative to bring
  badly-needed textbooks, library materials and
  computer labs to impoverished children in
  Guatemala

Text Library Books
Computer Training
GLP A partnership between North American
Guatemalan Rotary clubs and the non-profit
organization Cooperative for Education
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U.S. Canadian Rotarians unloading books
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Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) 10 Years, 302
Rotary Clubs from 46 Districts
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Rotary GLP andThe Cooperative for Education
(CoEd)
To help Guatemalan schoolchildren break the
cycle of poverty through education.
GLP A partnership between North American
Guatemalan Rotary clubs and the non-profit
organization Cooperative for Education
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Guatemalas Western Highlands Natural Beauty
Hides Bitter Realities

• Two-thirds live in poverty.
• A fifth live in extreme poverty
• Many families earn less than 4/ day.

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• Half cannot read or write.
• Average of 4 years of schooling.
• 90 of schools lack books.
• 80 of classroom time spent copying from
  blackboard.

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No Skills, Few Jobs

• Little access to Technology
• If you dont have skills in Guatemala,
  opportunities are very limited
• Shrinking agricultural sector

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GLP Meeting the Need Textbooks
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GLP Meeting the Need Computer Centers
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GLP Innovative and Sustainable

• Self-financing revolving fund concept
• Students pay small fees
• Fees enter a fund managed by CoEd Rotary
• Fund covers on-going expenses replacement of
  books / equipment
• Involves the community at grassroots

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Revolving Fund Concept
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Results

• 95 book return rate
• 90 of students say books help them learn and
  retain information
• 46 reduction in drop-out rates

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Awards Recognitions

• World Bank Rural Productivity Prize (2003)
• United Nations Pres.(2005)
• Microsoft Partner (2001-2006)
• Gutierrez Prize (2005)

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Support in Guatemala
Guatemalan Staff Volunteers
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Vision for the Future
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The GLP is a partnership between North American
Guatemalan Rotary clubs and the non-profit
organization, Cooperative for Education.

• Guatemala Literacy Project
• Coordinated by
• Rotary Club of Ephrata, WA (D. 5060)
• Glenn Chamberlain
• 14259 Wenatchee Ave. NW
• Ephrata, WA 98823
• gchamberlain_at_homenetnw.net
• [phone]

Cooperative for Education provides administrative
support Mary McCool, (CoEd, 2730 Hyde Park Ave.,
Cincinnati, OH 45209) literacyproject_at_fuse.net,
513-731-2595, ext. 6.