President’s Reflections We celebrated our 6th anniversary in February 2008 as a volunteer-operated, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and we’re excited that our mission to provide access to books is having such a positive impact on hundreds of rural children and their families in Venezuela. In fact, an ancient proverb perhaps best symbolizes our mission:
“Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime”.
Because of your enthusiastic support, FUNDVEC library projects and their valuable learning tools are producing wondrous results as they inspire literacy and help underserved rural citizens learn and enrich their lives.
We hope that you will enjoy learning about these FUNDVEC library projects and the vital, lifelong differences they are making:
Biblioteca Pública El Páramo (El Páramo Public Library) – Opened November 2004
Over 1100 books; 2 public-access computers and other educational resources also available
Experimental Lending Library – 1st year success: 127 books loaned, all returned.
Close collaboration with local educators and parents
57% improvement in number of students getting good grades, passing their classes.
Record library patronage: 10,803 library users visited in 2007 (vs. 5,212 in 2006).
73% of library users were girls and women
Planting Seeds of Knowledge Bookcase Libraries Project – Launched January 2007
Provides rural preschool children with age-appropriate books in special bookcase libraries
Prepares young minds to be school-ready and good students.
3 Bookcase Libraries "planted" in rural preschools in 2007
Although a lot has been accomplished, thousands remain without the tools they need most for a decent education and to break free from poverty’s stranglehold. With your help, we’ll be able to reach out to even more as we accomplish these objectives:
Biblioteca Pública El Páramo
Expand library with 500 additional books.
Purchase two more personal computers.
Launch “Tutor Tarea” Program to help with homework and reading efficiency
Extend outreach to include more children and adults in education/awareness workshops
Encourage local community to help to sustain library via fundraising and partnerships with businesses and non-governmental organizations.
Planting Seeds of Knowledge Bookcase Libraries Project
Secure sponsors to "plant” 22 more Bookcase Libraries in rural preschools.
Conduct outreach to other isolated communities in need.
As we meet these challenges we are especially grateful to all of you for sharing knowledge with so many, and like the proverb about teaching one to fish, we’ll continue working hard to provide access to books – the best tools for learning to make the difference of a lifetime.
