Education Guatemala Project #3339

Creating Girl Readers in Guatemala

by The Frances and Henry Riecken Foundation, Inc.

Project Report | Oct 17, 2011
Reading and Self-Esteem for Girls in Guatemala

By Joan Fuetsch | Project Leader

Older women often sign in with a thumbprint

We are hoping to get this project fully funded by the end of the year so that we might expand the program to include even more girls. Women and girls in rural Guatemala are second class citizens and only with the power of knowledge is that going to change. If we can help girls learn to read and gain access to books they will have the most basic key to a better life. When we are fully funded we hope to launch "girls only" book clubs encourage the girls to not only read to to communicate with each other about what they have read and to gain confidence in numbers. Discussions about their reading will also enhance critical thinking skills which are not addressed in the Guatemalan education system.

After multiple visits to the libraries offering enhanced girl reader programming I often see an increase in the number of girls in the libraries and also see gains in their confidence level. With unlimited access to information because of their reading skills young girls in Guatemala can truly change their world.

Mother and daughter reading in Chiche

Reading in a rural community

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Jul 28, 2011
Youngest reader ever in her village

By Joan Fuetsch | Riecken Foundation Board Member

Feb 18, 2011
Great impact in girls in San Carlos Sija

By Romeo Rodríguez | Sustainable programs coordinator

Juliana

Juliana is a six year old girl who belongs to the K’iche’ ethnic group and whose life has been positively impacted by the library in San Carlos Sija, Quetzaltenango. Her parents are farmers and sell their products in the local market, where they spend most of the daytime. While her parents are working she spends time at the Library, sometimes throughout the day, where she can be comfortable and participate in a variety of different children’s activities. Only on rare occasions can she not be found at the Library, usually when she is helping out her parents with farming tasks or house chores. But when she is at the Library, Juliana expresses that she is happy; she participates proactively on her own will, and enjoys children’s books a lot!

The community Library is called “Fuente de sabiduría”, which means “Fountain of wisdom” and a high percentage of women, including small girls, teenagers and adults attend daily. A girl’s book club has been formed at the Library aiming to improve their reading and writing skills, their ability to talk in public and to listen, and to develop their critical thinking. Besides the regularly scheduled reading programs, they participate in activities that promote the conservation of local traditions, such as traditional weaving or the cooking of unique local foods using fresh and nutritive ingredients.

All these activities programmed through the Library allows the community, especially girls, to become more informed and engaged in subjects like personal hygiene, children’s rights, values and principles, cultural identity, and others which are important for personal development. Thank you for believing in our project and supporting girls like Juliana, whom, without the Library, would have less chances of a brighter future.

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