G-2697

Guatemala Literacy Project

Description

Financing

Documents

Photos

History Logs

Project Description

Region: Central America

Country: Guatemala

Location: Western Highlands

Total Budget: $33,300

Area of Focus: Basic education and literacy


Please note: the project on this page is a sub-set of a much larger project. It is listed on this website for administrative purposes linked to the District 5340 DDF application process.

Guatemala's Western and Central Highlands exhibit one of the most extreme combinations of systemic poverty, illiteracy, and inequality in the hemisphere. One out of three indigenous Guatemalans cannot read or write and four out of five live in poverty.

The GLP Global Grant consists of 4 parts: (1) providing literacy training to teachers and quality children's literature; (2) implementing literacy-strengthening textbook projects; (3) strengthening technological education through computer centers in middle schools; and (4) a youth development program that keeps students in school. The projects are carried out in cooperation with the implementing NGO, Cooperative for Education (CoEd), which provides the technical expertise, field staff, logistical support, and follow-up to ensure that the projects are successful.

- Spark Reading Program: 220 elementary teachers in 20 schools will receive intensive literacy training, along with basic supplies and children's literature appropriate for each grade level. The primary literacy program will benefit approximately 5,500 students.

- Textbook Project: The textbook project for middle school students will provide textbooks in core subjects like science, Spanish, social studies and math in 3 schools. Teachers in the program are trained in integrating textbooks into their daily teaching. Approximately 198 students will receive textbooks through the program.

- Computer Center Project: GLP computer centers prepare middle-school students to enter the workforce by training students in the use of standard business software. The course of study consists of 100 lessons over a 3-year period. The computer centers aspect of this project will increase technological literacy for 532 Guatemalan youth in 4 schools by piloting the use of innovative new routers to expand technology education beyond the walls of the computer classroom to benefit additional youth.

- Rise Youth Development Program: Approximately 750 indigenous young people in 16 communities will benefit from Rotarian mentorship and career development through the youth development program.

Funding for this project will be needed in April 2022 following grant approval, to unlock matching funds from The Rotary Foundation. Project implementation begins in August 2022 and proceeds according to the following timeline:

- August-November, 2022: Rotarians and CoEd purchase router equipment in Guatemala and CoEd sets up the equipment in four existing GLP computer centers. Teachers at the schools receive training in integrating the router's content into their daily teaching.

- November, 2022: CoEd's training staff deliver initial, two-day training sessions (21 hours at each level of instruction (K-3, 4-6) in each regional cluster) to the teachers participating in the Spark Reading Program. Initial five-hour textbook teacher training seminars are also conducted.

- January, 2023: Rotarians and CoEd purchase textbooks in Guatemala and arrange delivery to the benefiting schools. Schools participating in the Spark Reading Program receive training materials (picture books, markers, construction paper, etc.) CoEd staff conduct any further initial Spark training sessions that were not conducted in November. Classes begin.

- January-November, 2023: Rise trainers guide students through the youth development curriculum, while also monitoring student grades, providing social support, and doing individualized follow-up with students at risk of dropping out.

- February, 2023: Rotarians from Yorba Linda Sunrise and other international clubs travel to Guatemala to assist Guatemala de la Asunción Rotarians and CoEd staff in delivering materials to the schools and inaugurating the projects.

- March-April, 2023: CoEd's training staff deliver additional five-hour seminars to Textbook Program teachers, as well as additional, one-day training sessions to the teachers participating in the Spark Reading Program.

- March-November, 2023: CoEd staff monitor and fine-tune Spark teachers' performance in the classroom, evaluating student reading performance and teachers' success at using the early literacy methodology they've learned, with oversight from Rotary volunteers.

- June 2023: Textbook and computer center teachers receive additional training.

- September-November, 2023: Students in the Rise Youth Development Program complete field trips and service projects.

- November, 2023: Guatemalan Rotarians in the GLP family participate in graduation ceremonies for Spark teachers and Rise students.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guatemala Literacy Project's interventions have proven to be more valuable than ever in helping teachers as they struggle to reach their students with education during stay-at-home orders. Books and other materials are still being delivered to teachers, while following guidelines for social distancing. CoEd's training staff have remained in constant virtual contact with teachers in the Spark, Textbook, and Computer Programs, providing worksheets, guides, and videos and helping teachers come up with creative ways to get these materials to their students, ranging from conducting virtual classes using Google Meet to distributing printed worksheets to students' homes. When in-person schooling resumes, this level of follow-up will continue to be critical to ensuring that students whose education was impacted by the pandemic do not get left behind. CoEd's trainers are developing strategies to condense course content when in-person learning resumes, to ensure that students catch up on material that was inadequately covered during the pandemic. Students in the Rise Youth Development Program have also benefited from increased virtual contact and support from CoEd's trainers to guide them in overcoming the unique challenges presented by the pandemic, ensuring that they can stay in school and continue completing the program's youth development curriculum virtually.

As the project kicks off in the coming months, the Rotary Clubs of Guatemala de la Asunción and Yorba Linda Sunrise, CA, will lead the charge in bringing together 170 Rotary Clubs and 25 Rotary Districts from around the world in support of literacy in Guatemala. The International Sponsor Club, RC Yorba Linda Sunrise, will spearhead fundraising efforts and serve as the custodian of the Global Grant funds. RC Guatemala de la Asunción, as the host club in Guatemala, has a more direct role in providing oversight of partner NGO Cooperative for Education (CoEd) in project planning, spending, accounting, and reporting. Representatives of both clubs will travel to schools benefiting from the projects to observe demonstrations of the program's methodology, among other activities.

We invite Rotarians to travel to Guatemala on any of our Project Tours, conducted every February and July by partner NGO Cooperative for Education. Although the tours are currently suspended due to COVID-19, we expect to be able to begin offering tours again by February 2022. The tours provide the opportunity to visit the GLP's four projects and take part in activities with the students whose lives are being transformed through your support, all while experiencing Guatemala's rich culture and beautiful scenery. In addition, you will have the chance to spend time with students, teachers, and community members at GLP schools; and represent your club and district (including the opportunity to speak, if desired) at the official inaugurations of the programs at the schools visited. For more information and upcoming tour dates, please visit https://www.guatemalaliteracy.org/get-involved/volunteer/.

Primary Host Partner

District: 4250

Rotary Club of: Guatemala de la Asunción

Primary Contact: Maria Ramos Amaro

Email: mariamarta.ramos@gmail.com

Primary International Partner

District: 5320

Rotary Club of: Yorba Linda Sunrise

Primary Contact: Don Fox

Email: rotarianfox@yahoo.com

Project Status

Paid
This project is "Paid". This means the funds have been received and the project is being implemented.

Project listed for the 2021-22 Rotary Year.

The TRF Grant application number is #2124415.

Proposed Financing

Existing Contributions Towards This Project

Date

Cash

DDF

Total

Del Mar (5340)

11-Mar-21

$2,500

$2,500

$5,000

Yorba Linda Sunrise (5320)

8-Apr-21

$5,000

$0

$5,000

Marin Sunrise (5150)

8-Apr-21

$500

$0

$500

District 4250 DDF

8-Apr-21

-

$10,000

$10,000

El Cajon (5340)

20-Jul-21

$1,000

$1,000

$2,000

Amount Requested from The Rotary Foundation

-

$10,800

$10,800

Total

$33,300

DDF contributions in grey are pending approval of the corresponding district committee.

Note: as of July 1, 2015 there is a 5% additional support fee for cash contributions. This fee does not appear in the financials above because it does not apply if the funds are sent directly to the project account (without going through TRF, and therefore without Paul Harris credit). Clubs sending their cash contribution to TRF must be aware they will have to send an additional 5%.

Project Supporting Documents


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Project Photos


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History Log Entries

9-Mar-21

System Entry

System Entry: Creation of project page.

11-Mar-21

by Dugan Lamoise

System Entry: Pledge of $2,500 with $2,500 DDF by Dugan Lamoise of the Rotary Club of Del Mar, District 5340.

8-Apr-21

by Caroline Phelps

System Entry: Pledge of $5,000 by Don Fox of the Rotary Club of Yorba Linda Sunrise, District 5320.

8-Apr-21

by Caroline Phelps

System Entry: Pledge of $500 by Caroline Phelps of the Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise, District 5150.

8-Apr-21

by Caroline Phelps

System Entry: Pledge of $10,000 DDF by Caroline Phelps of District 4250.

8-Apr-21

by Caroline Phelps

System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".

8-Apr-21

by Dugan Lamoise

System Entry: Project reverted to "Published".

9-Apr-21

by Dugan Lamoise

System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".

19-Jul-21

by Dugan Lamoise

TRF application is in process.

20-Jul-21

by Philippe Lamoise

System Entry: Project reverted to "Published".

20-Jul-21

by David W Johnston

System Entry: Pledge of $1,000 with $1,000 DDF by David Johnston of the Rotary Club of El Cajon, District 5340.

20-Jul-21

by Philippe Lamoise

System Entry: Project is now "Fully Pledged".

22-Nov-21

by Dugan Lamoise

The Guatemala Literacy Project is very close to making its TRF submission.

29-Nov-21

by Dugan Lamoise

Grant application submitted to TRF.

3-Dec-21

by Dugan Lamoise

System Entry: Application Sent to The Rotary Foundation through Member Access.

16-Feb-22

by Dugan Lamoise

Global Grant #2124415 will be considered for approval at TRF trustees meeting of May 5, 2022.

16-Feb-22

by Dugan Lamoise

Correction to TRF trustees meeting date for consideration of Global Grant #2124415: the trustees will meet on May 18, 2022.

5-May-22

by Dugan Lamoise

This grant will be considered for approval by the trustees of TRF on May 18, 2022.

13-May-22

by Dugan Lamoise

TRF trustees have canceled the May 18th meeting. This grant will now be reviewed at the June 9, 2022 meeting.

29-Jun-22

by Dugan Lamoise

System Entry: Application approved by The Rotary Foundation.

12-Sep-22

by Dugan Lamoise

The GLP Tour trip is scheduled for February 4-12, 2023 when grant books and learning materials will be delivered to the schools.

30-Nov-22

by Dugan Lamoise

The textbooks and computer equipment have been purchased and are ready for distribution in February 2023 during the GLP Tour trip.

27-Jan-23

by Dugan Lamoise

System Entry: Payment has been issued by The Rotary Foundation.

6-Sep-23

by Dugan Lamoise

Implementation is in progress for the current school year (Feb-Oct) with estimated spending completion by end of March 2024. Grant closure projected by 8/31/24.

20-Mar-24

by Dugan Lamoise

Grant closure projection of 8/31/24 is unchanged per Jessica Stieritz of Guatemala Literacy Project.

© 2010 Philippe Lamoise - Website design by Philippe Lamoise, D2G Online