From Books to Brilliance will create a village library in the impoverished rural community of Paz y Vida, Nicaragua. This lending library will be located in a newly built community center. From Books to Brilliance volunteers will purchase all books and educational materials in Nicaragua. Aligned to Paz y Vida's specific requests, these resources will serve approximately 350 children who live in Paz y Vida as well as in the surrounding villages.
Though children in Paz y Vida learn to read, they cannot read to learn. According to UNESCO the Youth Literacy Rate in Nicaragua is 85%, but most have no access to books. Children primarily read from a school blackboard. Families in this community earn $1 to $2 a day. There are no books at home; there is no library. Therefore, Paz y Vida's youth do not reach their intellectual potential and are unable to compete at a professional level.
From Books to Brilliance not only provides access to age and culturally appropriate books and materials, but also creates a space where all citizens can go to read, study, and plan for a future. With a library in their own neighborhood, children will no longer need to bicycle miles on rocky, muddy roads to access a book. Copies of textbooks for all subjects, grades 1 through 6, will facilitate homework completion. A women's cooperative, our local partners, will supervise library personnel.
This project begins by making resources available to 350 children in Paz y Vida and surrounding villages. Children will have a place to gather to study and plan for their future. During the next four years From Books to Brilliance will grow this lending library to include resources for citizens of all ages. This library will serve an ever-growing population well into the future, educating citizens and edifying communities.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
