Early Childhood Literacy & Nutrition in Guatemala

Riecken community libraries generate development. In a USAID/ASHA grant from October 2023, most Honduran community libraries will have the opportunity to renew their book collections with the support of the ASHA/USAID program.

The American Library Association (ALA) reaffirms and supports the principle that lifelong literacy is a basic right for all individuals in our society and is essential to the welfare of the nation. 

ALA confirms that libraries of all types, especially Public Libraries, as appropriate to their mission, have the responsibility to make literacy a high priority in planning and budgeting for library services. Libraries will continue to take a strong leadership role and must join with other literacy providers to urge local, state, federal, and private agencies to promote active development of literacy on a policy level and to support funding of the literacy services in libraries.

Similar to the ALA, Riecken Foundation advocates the achievement of national literacy through educational activities utilizing the historical and cultural experiences of community libraries and librarians. Our work has resulted in more than 10 million visits in our 20 years of life throughout the network of community libraries in Honduras and Guatemala. In 2023 alone, a total of 228,285 library visitors accessed books, computers, training programs and resources gaining high-value skills, opportunities for economic independence, and connection to the world outside their community.  In Riecken library communities reading skills have improved school performance through programs not available from public schools. The libraries supplement information sources and training for teachers and have positively influenced the content of what is taught in many secondary school classrooms. Nearly 110,000 people (49% women) are active participants in health and nutrition of their children and communities because of the reading and nutrition programs, currently being expanded throughout the Riecken library network.

In Honduras, satisfaction with education, health and the judiciary systems is in line with the respective LAC averages. Hondurans are most satisfied with the education system, with 65% of the population being satisfied in 2022, slightly below the LAC (66%) and OECD (67%) averages. The healthcare sector has a satisfaction rate of 53%, which aligns with the LAC average but is 15 percentage points (p.p.) below the OECD average of 68%. Satisfaction with the judiciary system is at 37%, in line with the LAC average (38%). The educational system, despite the impact caused by the 2019 pandemic, has improved in recent years in coverage and quality, through the different cooperation programs promoted, especially with the support of USAID. While Honduras has made significant progress in expanding access to primary education, enrollment in other levels of schooling is still lagging. The main challenges are low access to preschool and secondary education as well as weak learning outcomes across the education system, low number of trained teachers and insufficient learning materials.

Literacy as a social justice issue means that all people have equitable access to the skills and resources they need to fully participate as literate individuals in society—to communicate, analyze, criticize, synthesize, and create information. It takes into account structural barriers to that access, such as the inequitable distribution of resources, and the impact those barriers can have across lifetimes, generations, and outcomes. The correlation between literacy and income inequality, health outcomes, and rates of incarceration, among other issues of social and economic justice, underscores how literacy intersects with equity, access, and inclusion.

And the Riecken community libraries offer their contribution to the best of their abilities. An example of this is the community library of San Francisco Cones, in the municipality of Sensenti, department of Ocotepeque (Honduras). A few months ago, an adult literacy program began. Doña Delfina, a woman of about 77 years old, participates in this. She did not have the opportunity for education in her life. From not recognizing any written letters, little by little he recognized them until he was able to form words and phrases. And one day, after months of learning and motivation, he was able to read a story book from the library. The program bases its classes in the community library and receives the support and motivation of the librarian.

San Francisco de Cones community library, like all community libraries in the Riecken Network, provides free and equitable access to information for all, be it in written, electronic or audiovisual form. They play a key role in creating literate environments and promoting literacy by offering relevant and attractive reading material for all ages and all literacy levels and by offering adult and family literacy classes. Libraries assist in finding, using and interpreting appropriate information that opens up opportunities for lifelong learning, literacy enhancement, informed citizenship, recreation, creative imagination, individual research, critical thinking, and ultimately, empowerment in an increasingly complex world. Above all, literacy enables democratic participation without which leaders become inept and corrupt.

The San Francisco de Cones community library, as well as the rest of the community libraries that are part of the Riecken network, with support from USAID/ASHA (American Schools and Hospitals Abroad), will improve their collection of books. Riecken community libraries, with support from USAID/ASHA, will continue to help transform a single building block -- a community library with free computers, internet, print resources and programs -- into a springboard for democracy building, local leadership development, women’s empowerment, civic engagement and social justice in Guatemala. Riecken community Libraries are a demonstration and promotion American principles of inclusiveness and equality, civic engagement, free expression and independent inquiry. Together with the USAID / ASHA program, we will give a concrete response to promote community cohesion. 

Riecken Community Libraries are a social platform and an essential space for the social cohesion present in 14 communities in Guatemala and 52 communities in Honduras. 

 Learn more about the work of the Riecken Foundation and its network of community libraries in Guatemala and Honduras.