Empower Women & Girls in Guatemala with Technology

For twenty years, Riecken Community Libraries in Honduras and Guatemala have been sources of information and opportunity for traditionally underserved populations. With the Riecken model of sustainability at the foundation of each and every Riecken library, we find the unfailing commitment of the communities we serve to be a constant reminder of why we do the work that we do.

Riecken Community Libraries operate in communities that have handled extreme adversity for decades/centuries with resilience. With challenging times faced today – the COVID-19 pandemic, storm surges and pounding rains from Hurricane Eta flooding communities in Central and South Honduras – many libraries have closed to the public and many still remain closed or offer very limited services.

Despite the difficulties, the librarians and volunteer governing boards find creative ways to provide valuable services to their communities, such as connectivity.

COVID-19 Response

As in the rest of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit Honduras and Guatemala hard. During lockdown, food was scarce, there was no work, and little or no government support. Sharing food and cooking together were encouraged in communities providing strength and some sustenance for many in dire need. 

Libraries were closed, but staff worked from home maintaining critical information flow going to the communities to the extent possible. And as leaders in the community, library volunteers and staff jumped into action and were instrumental in coordination of distribution and storage of food and relief supplies.  As the pandemic wore on and some areas planned for at least partial re-opening, Riecken created comprehensive safety protocols for re-opening of the libraries once their municipalities would approve such action. 

To date, The Riecken Foundation has distributed more than 6,000 surgical masks, more than 255 gallons of alcohol gel, disinfectant, antibacterial hand gel respectively, as well as 51 COVID-19 prevention hygiene kits for librarians. 40,000 people were reached with information related to COVID-19 and prevention measures.

With many of the libraries still closed or offering limited services. However, here are some of the alternatives being offered in some of the Riecken libraries:

• Many libraries have implemented curbside pick-up and home delivery options for loaned books and materials.
• Several libraries have taken to providing online story hours to children with Internet access.
• Riecken is in contract with Odilo, the online book lending platform to allow Riecken library users through the library network to borrow books through download from the library.
• Many libraries continue to provide health training programs as well as storage and delivery of emergency goods for communities – food, clothing, and agricultural supplies.
• Online trainings continue to complement Riecken in-person trainings for librarians and volunteers, with well attended Zoom meetings with librarians on a variety of subjects.

Hurricane Eta Response 

Hurricane Eta unleashed its wrath upon Central America, closely followed by Hurricane Iota, with disastrous results in the region. The Riecken La Libertad Community Library in Morales, Izabal in Guatemala is still flooded from the storm surges that ran through the Rio Motagua, inundating 500 homes in La Libertad as well.

Assessment of the damages coordinated by Riecken showed:

• 80% of the infrastructure is damaged: floors, walls, paint, doors, glass, bathroom, electrical system
• 90% of the furniture was destroyed due to high flood water levels. requiring either repair or replacement
• 70% of the book collection (800+ books) was lost and technology equipment was severely damaged or rendered useless
• Outdoor Areas, built only a year and a half ago were flooded and destroyed 

The reduction of access to the libraries and their resources because of the pandemic has been deeply felt by all in our library communities, so efforts to preserve or replace the La Libertad library’s assets became a high priority for everyone.

Though not yet fully functional, we are please to say that the library has re-opened with the energy of 60 volunteers and is providing services to the community – news gladly received by all who value the role of the library in the health and well-being of the community

We are grateful for the support we’ve received to re-open this once vibrant library at La Libertad from our GlobalGiving campaign, local fund raisers, the European Union, The Riecken Foundation, and other generous donors.

Please take a moment to watch a video of the “new beginning” of the re-opened La Libertad Library! Such a testament to the resilience of the communities we serve!

Links:

• Visit our website

Since March 2020, and because of the alarm status generated by the coronavirus, the different rural communities of Honduras and Guatemala have been forced to give a different response to this new reality. Community library responses have been diverse and have been able to adapt to the needs of the moment: many have supported local governments in gathering information from vulnerable people to create food aid records (Guacamaya, Honduras), some have adapted their facilities as triage centers for the detection of potentially infected people (Gualala, Honduras), others have supported the packaging and distribution of food for vulnerable households (Freedom , Honduras), organizing awareness campaigns and information about the virus and its forms of contagion (San Juan Chamelco, Alta Verapaz); most have promoted book lending to domain and have released the WIFI signal from their internet (those with an internet connection) so that people can connect.

The current pandemic has highlighted social inequality, increasing the vulnerability of those groups that already live at extreme levels of exclusion. And this same pandemic has broken the existing social cohesion, making it more vulnerable to those who already were, with a closed education system and a collapsed health system. The state of alarm for the pandemic continues and in the face of a landscape of reopening services and economic revival in most communities, libraries need to strengthen their capacities, reactivate their programs especially towards those groups that have undoubtedly been most affected by confinement: children and young people who have not been able to follow their classes, who are at risk of dropout and because of the precariousness of the family economy , affected by the confinement measures established before the pandemic.

Riecken believes that the single most effective way to promote the spirit of discovery and curiosity is through the promotion and enjoyment of reading. People, both young and old, who possess the spirit of discovery, have the ability to try new things and projects, and take part in the social life of their communities. Through books, magazines, the internet, and group gatherings and programs, people can find solutions to problems, find answers to questions, and encourage new ideas and creativity. Reading leads to discovery and discovery leads to prosperity.

Unlike traditional Central American public or municipal libraries, Riecken libraries are independent, sustainable pillars of local communities, often second only in the village’s stature and importance to the local school and municipality offices. Riecken libraries are community-owned and managed by volunteer citizen boards, elected by the entire community. Despite outside support and financing from Riecken and the municipal governments, decision making and policy are directed by the community itself. The libraries are places of civic engagement, where local issues are analyzed and discussed, and local solutions are identified and resolved together as a community. Examples of library-initiated projects for the communities include women’s entrepreneurship training, girl readers’ clubs, youth leadership clubs, and the development of local teacher skills using the library as a base.

For its users, Riecken community libraries spark a spirit of discovery and a love of reading.  Equipped with high-quality books and new technology, the libraries help pull isolated communities into the bigger world, where they can benefit from globalization and contribute to it. Riecken believes that knowledge is the currency of the 21^st century, and Guatemalan citizens need a partner to acquire that knowledge. American-inspired democracy and prosperity require informed populations, and libraries are uniquely positioned to empower people by enabling them to access and use information to build their futures. 

2020 has been a very difficult year to overcome but 2021 will be a year in which Riecken Community Libraries will continue to work to provide answers to the needs demanded by the new reality marked by coronavirus.

Links:

• http://riecken.org