|
|
Our precious programs flourished throughout the summer. We are dedicated to expanding our reach; placing more books in the hands of children. Your donation this fall will help us navigate the recent changes outlined in our last newsletter while continuing to offer and enhance the myriad services we are known for in the 37 rural communities we serve.
The programs at the heart of our mission are almost entirely funded by our donors. The main library, the mobile project, 3D printing Program, and our expanding RACHEL Program would not be possible without your support. |
|
HJH Volunteer Mary Schroeder and Friends initiate a new lending Library in Guatemala
Earlier this year, six members from Unity Church of Fort Collins traveled to a small village in rural Guatemala that our church has been involved with for the past eight years. Under the umbrella of Unity International Projects (UIP), relationships have been formed and ideas shared about what assistance can best be provided to benefit the people of La Bendicion. On previous trips, books were brought and shared with the children but sadly, never used once the group departed. Thus, our team’s goal this trip was to introduce to the community leaders the “Library in a Box” concept which has proved so successful in many locations within Central America. With guidance from Jane Mirandette and the HJH Foundation, we purchased and shared the Library in a Box materials with community leaders in La Bendicion and outlined how they could start a lending library for their community. We spent our days there reading books and offering craft times with the children who were very eager to participate. For a community in which only half the adults are literate, it was wonderful to see the women’s group voice their desire to encourage reading and create a library for La Bendicion. The leaders responded favorably and have designated a space in an unused preschool building for the library. A proactive, college educated woman in the community has been appointed to spearhead this endeavor. She and others plan to organize and furnish the library space, then begin to offer regular reading times after school. Our team will maintain communication via WhatsApp to stay abreast of their progress and offer continued guidance with the start-up process. We are excited to see this project take root and are extremely grateful to the HJH Foundation for making these wonderful materials available to promote literacy and “get books in the hands of children.” |
|
 | Story Time |
|
 | Arts and Crafts Time |
|
We hope to expand the RACHEL Local Area Network (LAN) to more bookmobile schools in 2025.
In our last newsletter we told you about our successful August trip to Nicaragua where we installed a new RACHEL (Remote Area Community Hotspot for Education and Learning) LAN in one of the local public schools that our bookmobile visits. We would like to share with you a video from the director who oversees this school. In it, she expresses her deep gratitude for the RACHEL educational resources that will enhance the teaching and learning in the school. She also notes that being able to retrieve materials digitally, while learning how to use computers, will help her students develop important technical skills.
|
|
The director oversees a total of 7 schools in the community. Once she realized the positive impact RACHEL would have on her students’ education, she asked if we could help her acquire systems for her other schools. We were thrilled at how quickly she and her teachers learned to use and subsequently embraced RACHEL, and we told her we would try our best to honor her request. In her video she asks for our donors to “contribute with your little grain of sand … so that they can make this dream come true.”
|
|
 | School director receiving the RACHEL equipment |
|
 | RACHEL Teacher training day |
|
 | Using RACHEL in the classroom |
|
A note from Jane:
The library has been open in its new location now since late July. Additional construction has happened and we now have a lovely patio with small garden planters. We are not yet official in our new capacity as the San Juan del Sur Biblioteca Movil SA but well on our way. It seems our community has had no trouble finding our new location and classes and activities and computer use is thriving as we make plans for the School “Summer “ Vacation season starting in late November through mid-February.
The library plans vacation workshops, craft activities and summer programs and HJH will be purchasing the space and services from the new library business. We have been asked how the new plans affect HJH, and although the status has to change, we will remain the main support of the Biblioteca as we move forward. We anticipate even more additional expenses as more community services occur as our goals are increasing.
So here we are, still on this fine edge of beginning something amazing. We are anticipating having the inauguration of the new building and new status in November, but time will tell. We are very grateful our supporter for the Fall Matching Grant has graciously extended the timing of this opportunity to maximize our fundraising to meet our coming challenges, so here is my invitation. Please join us in supporting all that will be and making our new venture solid and secure with your support and encouragement. We will keep you all informed.
I am deeply appreciative of all your support, Jane
|
|
|  | Children in a tutoring session |
|
 | Students in the computer lab |
|
|
New mailing address: Here is the HJH Libraries For All new mailing address: |
|
Hester J Hodgdon Libraries For All
4562 Joydance Court
Fort Collins, CO 80524 |
|
We are registered as Hester J Hodgdon Libraries for All. Please donate today with the PayPal or JustGiving buttons above OR by check made payable to:
Hester J Hodgdon Libraries for All
4562 Joydance Court
Fort Collins, CO 80524 |
|
|
|
Notice: If you’d like to subscribe to these mailings please click here, if you’d like to unsubscribe click here. |
|
| |
|
