This project brings vital textbooks to secondary schools in Guatemala. Studies show that the use of books in the classroom improves grades by 30% and the amount of material covered by over 70%.

How It Works | Benefits | School List

How It Works:

Step 1:  We go to the inner cities or to parts of the countryside to identify candidate schools that want to begin their own textbook programs.

Step 2:  Next, we match that school with donors in the United States donors who agree to fund a cooperative. In the past, we've matched schools with Rotary clubs, companies, churches, foundations, and individuals.

Step 3:  We then use donated funds from the above groups to purchase textbooks in Guatemala in the vital areas of math, science, Spanish language, and social studies.  The books are purchased in Guatemala for the following reasons: (a) it is cheaper than shipping books from the U.S.; (b) we obtain books in Guatemalan Spanish that use photos and examples relevant to Guatemala; (c) these purchases further help the poor by creating jobs.

Step 4:  After delivering the textbooks, we train the teachers and students in methods for effective use and care of books. This training is essential because most teachers have never instructed using a book and most students have never owned a book nor do they have books in their homes. Click here to learn more about our Teacher Training Project.

Step 5:  Finally, we help the school set up a rental program whereby it rents its books to its own students for a small fee each year. The fees are put into a revolving fund, which is used to purchase a new set of books when the original ones wear out. There are now 170 successful book cooperatives in communities throughout Guatemala. These cooperatives have served over 31,000 schoolchildren since 1996.

Benefits:

• Initiative for project comes from schools themselves.

• Everyone in the community "buys in."

• Project is self-sustaining after initial investment.

• Project creates sense of pride, confidence and empowerment.

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