Pictured: Shana and Chuck Fair, recipients of
the Guatemala Literacy Fellows award.
In
February, Byesville Rotarians Chuck and Shana Fair traveled to the highlands of
Guatemala to participate in a literacy project supported by Rotary
International. The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is a 20-year partnership
between Rotary and the nonprofit Cooperative for Education.
Illiteracy
is a serious problem in Guatemala. Forty per cent of indigenous adults cannot
read or write. They can only sign agreements with an “X.” Ninety-five per cent
of poor, rural students never graduate from high school. As a result, 70% of
people in rural Guatemala live in poverty. For Guatemalans, learning how to
read and write and getting a high school degree is the way out of poverty.
Funds
from Rotary and the Cooperative for Education purchase textbooks and computer
equipment for schools in Guatemala. The program is self-sustaining. Programs
that can be sustained by the local community are a hallmark of many Rotary
supported programs. Rotarians want to teach people how to fish rather than just
give them a fish.
Parents
of students are asked to contribute a small amount—such as a $1.00 each year
for 5 years—to use the textbooks or computers. At the end of that time, the
school will have enough funds to purchase new textbooks on their own.
During
their visit to Guatemala, the Fairs visited 3 schools and help distribute books
and computers. They met interacted with students from grade school through high
school. They visited the home of one student and saw the obstacles children
face in order to get an education. The home consisted of 1 room measuring 10’
by 10’ with a dirt floor and 1 electric light. This room housed a family of
four. Running water was available from a sink outside but it was not safe to
drink.
Byesville
Rotary joined over 500 Rotary Clubs in providing funding for this project. Recently,
Byesville Rotary received a letter from the Guatemala Literacy Project
recognizing the club for its contribution of $1000 and entitling the club to
name 1 or more of the club members as “Guatemala Literary Fellows” for their
efforts to “…bring the gift of literacy to children in Guatemala.” The club
chose Shana and Chuck as the award recipients for their efforts to raise money
for the literacy project. The Fairs donated $500 to the GLP and challenged
their club and other Rotary clubs to match their gift. Byesville Rotary and 3
other Rotary clubs in District 6690 accepted the challenge.
Connect with #ByesvilleRotary at: www.Byesvillerotary.blogspot.com
, Twitter Byesville_Club, or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Byesville-Rotary/256548047818283.
The club meets 7:30 am, Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS
use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Walk-ins are welcome at the club’s
meeting. #6690
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