Elementary School Library

What would your life be like if you couldn’t read?

Many children in Santiago Atitlan never learn to read. Teachers have few literacy education resources, and libraries are almost nonexistent in rural Guatemala. For families who barely have enough to eat, books are a luxury item they simply cannot afford. Without libraries, there is nowhere for children and adults to satisfy their desire to learn, improve their literacy skills, or develop a passion for reading. The world of reading is a closed book on a shelf far out of reach.

The Pueblo a Pueblo Library Project

With the generous support of nearly 250 individual donors, Pueblo a Pueblo started its School Library program in 2010 to give children access to books and literacy programs in the village of Panabaj, just outside of Santiago Atitlan. Just before the books arrived, Tropical Storm Agatha brought mudslides that rendered the location unfit; it threatened the security of the children, whose safety is always our top priority. Following the disaster, many Panabaj residents were relocated to the municipality of ChukMuk, where their children now attend a provisional school. Pueblo a Pueblo relocated the library to the nearby ChukMuk community center, where both children and adults are enjoying its books, activities, and literacy programs.

True to our mission of empowering individuals, organizations, and communities to improve their own lives, we are working closely with local leaders to maintain community support for the library. Our goal is to eventually incorporate the library into the permanent ChukMuk Elementary School in summer 2011. In the meantime, children are flocking to the community library for literacy activities like reading circles. Thanks to our donors, the world of reading is finally within the children’s grasp.

You can help support literacy and all aspects of a child’s education when you make a donation to Pueblo a Pueblo.