Featured Partners March 2010
Chicacao
A Thirst for Knowledge
When you see the passion of committee member Flor de Maria Esquina Alvarado, Flor, and librarians Blanca Esquina and Ester de Alonzo, you realize very quickly that these are special people and this is a special place. With the meagerest of resources and a space smaller than most garages they have created a library where children literally stand in line waiting for an available space. Recently, when School was closed unexpectedly, Blanca immediately made sure the local cable let the children know the library would be open. Students walked miles or spent what little money they had for transport to get to the library where the only books for doing home work or reading existed. Though the temperature inside was over 90 degrees with little if any ventilation, the library was packed to overflowing. It is a humbling experience to see such thirst and passion for knowledge.
Bringing Resources and Expertise
For a long time Blanca worked for free and Flor, other teachers and community members gave from their own small salaries to keep the library open. Child Aid was so impressed with the dedication of this community and its unfaltering commitment to help its children that we chose Chicacao as a community library for in depth work.
In the past year Child Aid has:
• Worked closely with the local committee to help them create a long term plan for their library that will lead to long term growth and success.
• Helped the committee evaluate available resources.
• Helped them draft a proposal for support.
• Provided librarian training.
• Provided training to local teachers in literacy education.
• Cataloqued and organized the entire Library with the help of our expert volunteers.
• Supplied hundreds of books.
• Provided funds for scholarships for student library assistants.
• Provided funding to help with salaries.
• Provided funds for shelving and other physical improvements.
While the individuals in Chicacao are extraordinary, there are other communities with committed and dedicated individuals and groups struggling to build a better future for their children and communities. We invite you to join us in working with them. We need your support to allow us to partner with them to make true and lasting change happen.
