Guest Speaker Mary Pribyl - October 13, 2015
Posted by Al Anile
Above is guest speaker Mary Pribyl, Glenview Sunrise Rotary Club (left), accompanied by Joe Pribyl, Glenview Club, (Middle) and Sylvia Buck, Glenview Sunrise (right).
Guest Speaker Mary Pribyl, assisted by her project co-workers and a slide show, spoke about the Guatemala Literacy Project. Below is an explanation od what the Guatemala Literacy project is all about.
What is the Guatemala Literacy Project?
It is a partnership between Rotary clubs and the non-profit organization Cooperative for Education (CoEd). This initiative provides badly needed textbooks, computers labs, scholarships, and literacy and training programs to underprivileged children in rural Guatemala. Guatemala’s Central and Western Highlands exhibit one of the most extreme combinations of systemic poverty, illiteracy, and inequality in the hemisphere. When children have to go to school without ANY textbooks or computers, the cycle of poverty continues.
What makes Guatemala Literacy Project special?
This is a very strong partnership that has been bringing needed textbooks and computers centers to rural schools for more that 17 years. The primary international partner this year is the Rotary Club of Glenview Sunrise in District 6440. Last year the Global Grant raised over $400,000 with funding from 18 rotary districts and 118 rotary clubs, including clubs in the USA, Canada, Cayman Islands, and the United Kingdom. Representatives of 15 rotary clubs serve on the GLP Advisory Board of our partner organization, the Cooperative for Education, to insure that the GLP projects function at the highest level. The Rotary Foundation has sent representatives to review the project and their Cadre has evaluated the program and given it very positive reviews.
How can my club get involved?
Make a contribution to the Global Grant and we help you get a district match (DDF) as well as a match from the Rotary Foundation. Due to the magic of matching, your contribution will grow to 3 ½ times your original contribution. Come to Guatemala and participate in the Rotary project tour with Rotarians from other participating clubs and districts February 5-14, 2016. Visit schools in indigenous villages in the Guatemalan Highlands, meet the children and their families, and see for yourself how your funds are being used.
For more information visit www.guatemalaliteracy.com or contact Mary Pribyl, Rotary Club of Glenview Sunrise and GLP Advisory Board member, at mpribyl@aol.com or 847-729-6290.