We work in a country where the dominant narrative among nonprofit organizations is about brokenness, suffering, and scarcity of resources. So, there would be an understandable impulse for an organization like ours see the teens with whom we work as “at-risk,” as people whose lives need to be “fixed,” or as individuals in need of…
If I ever saw a justification for the work of Reading Village it was this. Every year the Skoll Foundation publishes a ranking of countries by social indicators. Their goal is to create a common vocabulary among changemakers, to identify geographic areas of focus, and to celebrate successes made. This spring, the Skoll Foundation put…
The two decades following the end of World War II were filled with excitement and challenge as the forces of good had just overcome the forces of evil. The US had beat Germany to the bomb and was in a race to beat the Soviet Union into space. The very definition of “American” was clarified…
This past January, I had the opportunity to participate in the opening ceremonies in two of our five partner communities. I was in awe of all of the symbolism wrapped into this special Ceremony of Light. From the traditional cloth beneath the flowers and candles that represents the Mayan culture and diversity; to the flowers that…
A few years ago I was invited to China to teach a master workshop on facilitation and leadership. During the first day I was invited by several of the students to join them for lunch. We sat at a large round table that the waiters soon filled with an array of mouth-watering dishes – roasted…
Every year our youth leaders stand up and make a commitment for the year ahead. This year, we decided to make a commitment to each of you. Happy Valentines Day from everyone at Reading Village.
Founder and Executive Director, Linda Smith, reads with Juanito – the younger brother of two Reading Village Leaders and Readers graduates. Across Guatemala there are two million youth who cannot afford to be in school. We believe that is two million too many. Thanks to you, Juanito will never be part of this statistic. Juanito…
Founder and Executive Director, Linda Smith, speaks with recent program and high school graduate, Juana Estela, who spent four years promoting literacy among hundreds of children in her community. Across Guatemala there are two million youth who cannot afford to be in school. We believe that is two million too many. Thanks to you, Juana Estela…
November marks the end of the Guatemalan school year as well as the Reading Village program year. And so we gathered with our partner communities to celebrate this year’s successes and the high school graduations of the youth leaders who have completed our program. This year 50 teens reached 2,500 children with regular and dynamic…
“I want to go to university,” Beverly declared to me. Her bright eyes and ease belying the difficult path that led this 14-year-old to interview for a high school scholarship. “I never knew my father, and my mother never even reached third grade. But I dream of having a professional job, and I want all…