Empower Women & Girls in Guatemala with Technology

“For me, the library has been a center of learning, because I had not been able to learn in my life, now I have been given that opportunity to change my way of thinking and discovering my abilities" says Brenda Margarita, a women benefited by Women for success project of Gabriela Mistral Library, in San Juan Chamelco (Guatemala).

One of the greatest successes of Riecken Community Libraries is the high level of community volunteerism they motivate. One factor in this is the degree of trust that the communities have in the leaders who manage Riecken libraries. Another motivating factor is the high level of knowledge and skills transmission generated by the libraries themselves.

The Riecken Foundation encourages training workshop participants in a way that results in a multiplier effect; in other words, women train women. This allows strengthened local capacity in the design, facilitation and evaluation of participatory training.

The Riecken Guatemala Foundation empowers girls and women through its network of community libraries.

In Guatemala, 970 women have strengthened their social skills through programs in Riecken Community Libraries. With stronger social skills and willingness to be actively involved in the community, they have learned to organize fairs featuring handicrafts and other products, wherein the women take advantage of dialogue opportunities with visitors to raise awareness about gender discrimination and violence against women.

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

Links:

• Riecken website

Riecken libraries are more than shelves of books with tables and chairs – they are created to encourage visitors to explore their world through reading, class participation and training, research, games and learning from each other. Librarians and volunteer staff inspire use of the library’s resources with network-wide programs and story hours designed that instill a lifelong love of reading, and early childhood development classes.

Training workshops has been an essential element for the empowerment of women. Women discover their human potential in the different sessions in which they participate. Riecken Community Libraries involve girls and women in community participation where they might otherwise be excluded. A love of reading is a great place to start! 

By supporting Riecken Community Libraries as we continue to build access to learning and technology you can:

• Bridge the digital divide giving girls and women access to information for life and learning
• Deliver dynamic programming for girls and women of all ages
• Build local leadership skills needed for facilitation of community development
• Empower girls to participate in the enhancement of their knowledge and skills needed for improved life opportunities.

Help build the next generation of leaders in Central America!

Links:

• Reader Girls are Empowered Women