The New Grants Model is here.  More than ever Rotary Clubs within Districts must work together to plan International Projects. The Guatemala Literacy Project is a partnership between North American & Guatemalan Rotary clubs and the non-profit organization Cooperative for Education.

 

The Rotary Club of North Bay is joining a multi-club, multi-district Global Grant to benefit The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP).  This grant will promote lifelong reading and writing skills in the Highlands of Western Guatemala by providing badly-needed story books, textbooks, and computers to impoverished schools.  In addition to providing high quality children’s books to elementary schools, teachers are trained in effective reading instruction.  The most innovative aspect of this program is that it is financially self-sufficient.  Rental programs are set up in each school in which students pay the school a small fee to use a set of textbooks (4 books) for the year.  This creates a fund for replacing the books as they wear out, guaranteeing sustainability and continued community involvement long after Rotary steps away.

 

The Rotary Club of North Bay is seeking financial and hands-on partners, particularly in District 7010. My wife Marlene and I have traveled to Guatemala in 2011, 2012 and 2013 .The next project trip will be January 31 to February 9, 2014.  Guatemala is an easy flight from District 7010 and I highly recommend fellow D7010 Rotarians to join Marlene and me on this wonderful hands-on International Project. www.guatemalaliteracy.org

 

If your Club has interest in joining us on an International Project that is sustainable, measureable, community driven, proven, FUN and REWARDING, please get in touch with me by e-mailing cthacker@sympatico.ca or calling me at 705.494.8339. I am also willing to do a presentation for your club at one of your meetings on the Guatemala Literacy Project. Remember, no amount of financial commitment from your club is too small.