This project will build a library on the remote island of Caye Caulker, Belize, providing a rich supply of books and critical literacy support services to 150 students at Ocean Academy High School. In addition to the physical building and the books, this project will provide online subscriptions so that students and teachers can have access to published journals, magazines, reports, documents, newspapers, books, image collections, and more.
The Ocean Academy High School Library (OAHSL) is currently located in the English classroom on the second floor of the school building. This presents 2 problems; (1) the space is very limited and (2) while it allows for easy access for the English & Reading classes, it limits access at other times. Students do not have a scheduled time to visit the library and to learn about proper usage of a lending library . Students do not have open access to the library before, during or after school.
Fundraising is needed to pay for the construction of a new room or small building adjacent to the current Ocean Academy building. This microproject will allow us to build an additional room to house the school library. Students will then be able to access the OAHSL as part of a scheduled study as well as through open access before, during and after school. And we will have more space so that we can add to our collections of books.
For the first time, a full generation of villagers will be educated beyond primary school. They will lead their developing country out of crime and poverty and become stewards of Belize's fragile barrier reef. This library will provide access to a wider variety of books and we will be able to help to grow the love of reading for these teenagers.
