Thursday, February 11, 2010

Rotary Race to Literacy - May 1-7 2010

Photo: PBS

The Rotary Race To Literacy Book Drive Project was launched in Jamaica on Wednesday February 10 2010.

The project is inspired by the 2008 Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles, California where Rotarians set the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for the “Most Books Donated to Charity in Seven Days” with 242,624 books.

On the occasion of the 36th Annual Rotary District 7020 Conference in Kingston, Jamaica, we seek to have new and near-new books — of any kind — donated between May 1-7, 2010.

HOWEVER, donors are urged to start collecting books from now and drop off to project partners who are collecting on behalf of the public between February 10 and April 30 2010. This endeavour will be both a National and International Project.







Collected books will be donated to the people of Jamaica and Haiti.

In Jamaica, the primary recipient will be the Jamaica Library Service with its island-wide network of branch, school and mobile libraries. In Haiti, the primary recipient will be determined by Rotary at the appropriate time.
Drop off points identified for now are : -


1. The Gleaner Company's Head Office at 7 North Street, Kingston

2. Any Jamaica Money Market Brokers Branch islandwide. For Branch Locations click here.


Persons can also contribute through cash to the drive. Money raised will go towards buying special books for children. Persons can make a donation to the Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaican Account Number 822 269 or to US Account Number 822 271.


Karen McDonald Gayle (left) acting CEO of the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, hands over a cheque to Errol Alberga, District 7020 Governor at the Launch of the Race to Literacy Book Drive Project at the Spanish Court Hotel on Wednesday. Looking on is Deika Morrison, chief organiser of the project - Photo & label : Jamaica Gleaner


WHY ?

Literacy is the cornerstone of sustainable development.

The vast majority of Jamaican children do not enter Grade 1 as emergent readers. A significant cause of the problem is the severe deficiency in appropriate reading material for the early childhood age group, and for children with special needs.



Haiti was already struggling to meet literacy targets before the devastation from the earthquake. In the absence of major intervention, the situation will only deteriorate. As the country in Rotary District 7020 most in need, Haiti will also be a beneficiary of appropriate English, French and Haitian Creole books.

We can make a real difference.

Photo: Liam Quin



HOW TO HELP

H
is for “Home”. Please donate at least one (1) book from home. You must have even one!

E is for “Explain, Enlighten and Encourage”. Please be an ambassador for the book drive. Tell your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues here and abroad about the book drive and why it is important. Spread the word in person, at work, social events, by phone, mail, email, instant messenger, Facebook, Twitter etc. Join the Facebook Fan Page, follow us on the blog and on Twitter. Share the links!

L is for “Lend a Hand”. This project needs enabling partners. If you can, please be a drop off point, offer storage, shipping, customs brokerage, transport, media etc. Corporations and Non-Governmental Organizations can be key enabling partners on a large scale.

P is for “Pocket”. Please make a financial contribution to the Rotary Race to Literacy Project to purchase special books for children as your donation. The general public, Diaspora, Corporations, Foundations and International Development Partners can all make a significant difference to early childhood education, environmental education, bilingual materials, Braille, and special needs for learning disabilities etc.

Cheques : “Rotary Race To Literacy Project”

J$ Deposit: Bank of Nova Scotia A/C # 822 269

US$ Deposit: Bank of Nova Scotia A/C # 822 271

1 comment:

Trinidad Shipping said...

Thanks for the effort you took to expand upon this post so thoroughly. I look forward to future posts.
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