Creating Girl Readers in Guatemala

Every Community Library has a Children’s Corner where girls can gather to read on their own or with others. The girl in this picture lives in San Juan la Laguna and visits the library every weekday afternoon. They know it’s their space, and that makes it special. Providing children with the tools and safe environment to develop their love for reading is fundamental for building life-long readers.

When parents spend time with their small children reading, singing, or playing games, such as this mom in Zacualpa, important cognitive skills develop. Our Emergent Literacy Program applies 6 fundamental techniques to prepare parents to engage their children ages 0 to 5 using reading as the core activity. Pregnant mothers read or sing to their unborn babies; fathers play simple math games with their daughters; and parents with low literacy levels develop their own skills and self-confidence.

This student volunteers every day at the Chiché community library. Having access to a broad range of reading materials allows her to improve her research opportunities for homework assignments, as well as freely explore subjects of interest for fun.

Community Libraries provide an environment filled with resources to engage girls at every level. Chess competitions, as well as our Book Clubs serve as excellent vehicles for developing critical thinking and self-confidence.