Library Project

One of the secondary projects that I am currently working on is the improvement of our local library. In previous posts I’ve talked about some of the hurdles that my town faces: incredibly high rates of abject poverty, hopelessness, alcoholism, equality issues for both women and for the 98% indigenous Mayan, etc.

One issue that I’m tackling in a small way in my town is illiteracy. In addition to doing community surveys to assess which villages need the most help and encouraging them to seek out literacy classes, I am currently working on a library project. The municipal government has shown that it takes literacy seriously by purchasing a new building for the Library and installing 10 computers for students to use. However, the less than 500 books that the library currently has are insufficient.

When I approached the librarian to ask how I could help he said there were two major things that the library lacked- text books and maps. Over the next two months I had him compile a list of the books that students requested that the library didn’t have. I then made an online wishlist where people could purchase books for the library. Then I approached the mayor and asked him to support the library by buying paint for a map project. He said yes, and we got to work.

The last two weeks, I have spent with two high school students, painting giant maps of the world, of Guatemala, of our department(state), and our town. I realized the necessity for the maps when one of the members of the mayors committee came into the room while we were painting and commented that the world map was a lovely map of Central America.

Even as we were painting students were floating in and out of the room studying the maps and quizzing each other on which countries they knew. My favorite comment of the week was when a student came in and said “Wow! Compared to the whole world Guatemala is like a little bean!” It’s exciting to have made something I can leave in my town permanently that I know will not only help the students do better on their exams, but will also help them to think more globally.

The library project goes on- books are still being collected (if you’re interested in purchasing a book for the project, follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/14KD7RLYALKEW ) The next step in the project is to work on a program to get kids excited about reading- I’m planning to start story time in September and possibly also do some other monthly events that will get people coming to the library and making reading a part of their lives.

Here are a few pictures from the painting process…