Rotary Foundation Minute

Over 122 million children in the world are illiterate. After decades of investing in literacy projects, experts around the world have come to realize that simply getting children into the classroom - either by removing attendance barriers or providing supplies - isn't enough to solve illiteracy. According to Carolyn Johnson who designed the Guatemala Literacy Project, the teachers need to be taught how to teach children to read - the quality of teaching in the classroom needs to improve. Rotary along with the United Nations, USAID and other organizations are shifting their focus to helping teachers plan lessons that ensure that students will actually learn. The Guatemala Literacy Project still supplies textbooks, but also equips two computer centers where students get hands-on experience using standard business software like windows, Word, Excel for an hour a week. Fees collected by school administrators and managed by CoEd are used to replace books and equipment when they wear out.

Each year, a new global grant from The Rotary Foundation extends the effort to another 40 or so primary schools and a dozen middle schools selected after meetings with community leaders, parents, teachers, and administrators. More that 480 clubs in Guatemala, the United States, Canada, Cayman islands, and Japan have provided financial support. Every year, about 50 Rotary volunteers take part by delivering materials and visiting classrooms. Your contribution to The Rotary Foundation enables this to happen. Thank You!!