Spreading the Joy of Reading in Morado K’asa

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This is Jennifer, again. Like I mentioned before, my work in Bolivia involves initiating and leading a club de lectura (reading club) for the kids of Morado K’asa. About 12 kids between the ages of 8 and 15 participated in the club the first day, but the number has now risen above 20. It seems word spreads fast among the kids of the small town!

The work I do at the library would be impossible without the enthusiasm and support of Marisol, the 15-year-old librarian of Biblioteca Villa Zamora. She really impresses me; a full-time high school student, she not only runs the library but also plays three sports, as well as helping out in all the chores involved in living in an agricultural family. This picture of Marisol surrounded by children shows just how well she does her job:

So, if Marisol does her job so well, what do I do? Well, I organize and run the club, twice a week, to encourage the kids to enjoy reading, plus help them practice their own written expression. Each session begins with the kids visiting our “hygiene corner,” where they each have a comb, cup, and toothbrush. Before combing their hair and brushing their teeth, they wash their hands. The hygiene corner is designed to encourage the formation of healthy habits that aren’t really emphasized at home. (While the corner was the idea of another volunteer, we inaugurated it with this club.)

 

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