Annapolis, MD (Oct. 6, 2013) – Ambassador Alfonso Quinonez, Secretary for External Relations, and Martin Huenneke, Chief of Section, both of the Organization of American States, recently welcomed a delegation of Rotarians from District 7620, encompassing Central Maryland and Washington, D.C. The Rotarians were led by District Governor Peter Kyle at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The purpose of the visit was to present to the Ambassador a copy of a book that had been published to commemorate the Ecuador Literacy Project done through Rotary International Foundation’s Global Grant 25003 of $61,350. It was the first signature project between the OAS and Rotary International and took place in Quito, Ecuador, in 2012-2013. It benefited more than 3,000 children in 17 schools. Fifth-nine teachers were trained in literacy enrichment. The book’s stories, “La Voz de Mis Abuelos,” or “The Voice of My Grandparents,” were written by second, third and fourth grade students in elementary schools in Ecuador. The book was illustrated by art from the students.
Each school selected a story that had been narrated by a grandparent. The children took notes and created a rough draft based on the methods learned from the Teacher Training Program. Teachers and students then worked together with master trainers and editors from the University Andina Simon Bolivar.
“You have no idea how important it is for these teachers to see that someone from so far away has taken an interest in their professional development,” writes Soledad Mena, project manager for the Teacher Training Program and a professor at the University Andina Simon Bolivar, in the book credits.
“We did not grow up having a love for books,” writes Fausto Palacios, a member of the Rotary Club of Quito Occidente. “Most of us were afraid of books. We want our children to embrace books. We want their imagination to grow. This is vital for the growth of our economy, for the future of our children.”
The Rotary Club of Quito Occidente and the Rotary Club of Annapolis were the project’s lead clubs, with several other clubs in District 7620 participating, including the Rotary Clubs of Bethesda Chevy Chase, Capitol Hill, and Washington, D.C., with donations of talents and funds. The project was led by Rachael Blair, a former Rotarian from Annapolis and founder of Kindness in Action Inc., USA.
District Govenor Peter Kyle was joined at OAS by Richard S. Carson, Rotary International Representative to the OAS and member of the Bethesda Chevy Chase Club; Clara Montanez, Alternate RI Representative to OAS and member of the Washington, D.C., Club; and Annapolis Rotary Club members Mary Felter, Donald Roland, and Carl Schneider, former RI District Global Grants Co-Coordinator.
With 34,000 Rotary Clubs world-wide in more than 200 countries and more than 1.2 million members, Rotary International is strengthening its impact on children’s literacy by creating sustainable literacy training programs with its enthusiastic partners.