| President's Reflections |
| (Excerpts from the newsletters) |
| |
| Dear Friends: |
Because of you, FUNDVEC’s efforts to provide free access to books are making a profound impact on the quality of education being offered to impoverished rural citi-zens in Venezuela.
Getting a better education enables people to find their way out of poverty because they learn to take charge of their own lives and seek out opportunities to make them better.
In fact, during my recent visit to Biblioteca Pública El Páramo in Caserío El Páramo, I met with parents, teachers and students who were proud that for the first time ever all 32 high school students had graduated with their class. Twenty-two had even decided to continue their education and were already enrolled at the Technical Agriculture College!
Having quality, up-to-date books in a clean, well-lighted library has clearly made a difference for these students, especially since their parents were unable to afford books or provide adequate studying conditions. However, before FUNDVEC built Biblioteca Pública El Páramo, over 45% of students dropped out before reaching the 6th grade, according to a study conducted by the University Simon Rodriguez in Valle de La Pascua (Guárico State).
As Biblioteca Pública El Páramo fast approaches its 5th successful year, it is still the only rural library of its kind in Vene-zuela, and now more than ever serves as a center of information and lifelong learning. In October a record 1180 patrons of all ages visited the library, and some even brought their own chairs or waited outside for a space to become available. We plan to accommodate more patrons by purchasing 2 tables and 12 chairs just as soon as we can raise the necessary funds.
The community has once again come together during these challenging times, volunteering to keep their library sparkling clean, and the Caserío El Páramo Library Committee is working with the Library Coordinator and me to partner with local businesses and private foundations for their support of Biblioteca Pública El Páramo.
Thank you again for making it possible for FUNDVEC to provide disadvantaged rural citizens in Venezuela with access to books and information; because of you, they are learning to achieve their full potential and break poverty’s cycle.
I wish you and your families the best for this holiday season and a prosperous, healthy new year.
Gratefully yours,
|
♥ América Soler-Everhart América |
| |
|
Ex-Dropout Mother Rises to Assistant Librarian
Also Overcomes Personal Tragedy, Thanks to Books |
Even though 16 year-old mother and high school dropout Maylin Reyes was not much of a reader, she never dreamed that books would one day enable her to be-come an Assistant Librarian but also help her overcome her own devastating loss.
Maylin had grown up in Caserío El Páramo, and like most kids there she had never had books. Both she and her husband worked hard at menial jobs, but they could barely put food on the table, and Maylin realized one day that their only way out of poverty was to go back to school, get her diploma and look for a decent job.
At first, studying was difficult, especially with an infant daughter, so Maylin’s hus-band babysat and she went for her first time to the new library in town, Biblioteca Pública El Páramo. She was at once intrigued by the library and all of the interesting books, and she knew then that she wanted to learn as much as she could.
As Maylin read more, she began to really enjoy studying, and it was no surprise when she graduated with honors. Inspired, she took more secretarial and computer classes while working part time, and after she began to volunteer at the library, a position opened for Assistant Librarian . Maylin applied, and though she felt she was one of the best candidates, she was shocked and overjoyed when she got the job.
Maylin trained hard and loved working at the library, but tragedy struck suddenly last March when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident. Left alone to support their daughter, Maylin grew increasingly despondent and sank into a hopeless depression.
Maylin tried for weeks to work through her grief at the library until a box of new books arrived one day, and she found one that helped families cope with personal tragedy. She began to feel better as she read and then sought out other self-help books until she was able to shake off her feelings of despair.
Now 20, Maylin cheerfully helps library visitors find the books they need to overcome life’s challenges and enrich their lives, and she has also revived her hunger for knowledge by recently enrolling in a Saturday afternoon class at University Romulo Gallegos in the nearby city of Valle de La Pascua.
Maylin is grateful to everyone who helped FUNDVEC build and sup-port Biblioteca Pública El Páramo, because this wonderful treasure of books has not only ignited her passion to read but enabled her to transcend from the depths of tragedy to a life of meaningful learning
|
| |
|
|
 |
|
| América Soler-Everhart with young readers at Biblioteca Pública El Páramo |
Read How The Tools That You’re Giving Are Inspiring Hope
Juana Gamarra is a 25 year-old single mother with three young children. When a doctor in the city recently told her she had hepatitis-B, she returned home in tears because she didn’t understand and thought she would soon die. She didn’t want to return to the doctor, but instead went to the library where she found a book about hepatitis. She began to cry again, but this time her tears were from happiness because she learned that her illness could be cured...
|
|
 |
|
Daniel Gamez, 25, is a
community leader who
works part-time as a
basketball coach for El
Páramo School ...
|
|
|
|
Nine-year old Ana Rodriguez is a 4th grader
who comes to the library every day to help her
neighbor and best friend , 2nd grader Mercedes,
because she reads only at
first-grade level ...
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
 |
Asst. Librarian Maylin Reyes
and 3 year old daughter Nazareth |
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 |
|
