Did you grow up reading books?
There is a library in our project school, Juan Carlos Peralta Elementary. However, when we first arrived at the school the library was unfortunately securely closed and unavailable for the students. The small room was dusty and unorganized. It offered little variety of books to read, and although they did have quite a number of books, only a small part corresponded to an elementary reading level. Knowing that not many Ecuadorians took time to read books, the project members thought it vital to open this space for the students, so that they would experience the joy of reading. Besides, the teachers have long been asking us to help them get the library running well.
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| <How the library looked like when we got to the school> |
A KOICA volunteer and friend, Yugo, visited the school from 10 hours away to bring solutions to this issue. She took the time to examine the library system, then decided we should start by categorizing and serializing the books. With Yugo at the lead, the teachers and the project team members, accompanied by excited elementary students, began sorting and organizing.
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| <How the library wall looked like after the clean-up> |
For three weeks, Yugo took the one-hour bus ride to the school every day to begin what we call the "Library Revolution." Within a few days, we hear that all books were coded with stickers according to their category. The next week, we visit the school and find teachers and students alike in the library during their free times browsing with clear curiosity. Cleaning and organizing alone already sparked a great interest for books in the school community.
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| <Students reading books during recess> |
The following week, Yugo did a short teaching session for the school. She taught the students the rules on how to use the library, what not to do, and how to do simple research in the library. She used different games for the students to practice finding information in the encyclopedia. The students not only learned that the library is a fun place, but that the library is a sea of information for them to play in.
The teachers were also shown a number of teaching methodologies, including games, through which they can educate children in the library. They were reminded that they were the models for the students--that when they show their love for reading, the students will follow suit.
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| <Yugo showing the students how to find information in the encyclopedia> |
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| <The students were given instructions on how to use the library> |
Although everything seemed to be coming together, we realized that the library needed maintenance. After Yugo left, the library was seldom open and available for the students because we didn't have a librarian! To tackle this issue, the school director proposed we train two of their teachers to be the main librarians for the school. Over the next months, we worked hard to make sure the library would be open during every recess.
Then we received a call from Myung-soo Kim, another KOICA volunteer and a librarian. He was selected to receive a donation of around 250 books from KOFLA, a Korean literacy agency. From the generosity of our partners, we were able to fill the library with Spanish books for elementary students with a great hope that the students will enjoy investing in their future through reading.
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| <KOICA volunteers and the elementary students in the library> |
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| <Yugo and Alberto, the school principal, on the day the books were donated> |
Currently we are finishing a library management program, so that the librarian can allow the students to check the books out to their homes. For these children living in the poorest sectors of Quito, reading is a window to the wider world, and a vital foundation upon which their lives will be built. We await the day when every student in Ecuador will learn the joy of reading.
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