While books are commonplace in the United States, they are still a rarity on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. At the Mariposa Center for Girls we have the space for a large children's library, but don't have the books or shelves to fill it. We are currently looking for funding to purchase books for a children's library for our beginning readers up through the seventh grade reading level.
Independent and guided reading is one of the best ways to improve student vocabulary and academic performance. However, it is extremely difficult for the youth of Cabarete to find books available for them to read, and it's even more rare that those books are at their reading level. Currently, the Mariposa DR Foundation is relying on book donations, but we need to be able to purchased texts that are both current and at a variety of reading levels.
The funds raised will be used to purchase the books, e-readers, furniture, listening centers and shelving needed to fully stock our children's library at the Mariposa Center for Girls. The Mariposas and their families will be able to come to the center and check out a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and reference books to read on their own or for school. We will also be able to run more library programs and academic tutoring sessions.
By fostering a love of reading we are ensuring that our girls will be lifelong learners. Their reading levels and reference skills will increase, and the success they experience in school will motivate them to continue their education. Additionally, studies have shown that mothers with high literacy levels are more likely to place an emphasis on their children's education. This will help to end the cycle of generational poverty that is prevalent in our community.