– target set at 1500 books by end of driveThree teenaged students of Earl Marriott Secondary School in British Colombia are leading an effort to boost literacy levels in Guyana.Katherine Singh, Matthew Cumblidge and Shyrie Maharaj originally began their book drive – Give For Guyana – as a final project for their social justice class.They subsequently remained with the project, seeing it as a chance to give children less fortunate themselves something they have always taken for granted – the chance to learn to read.Conducting research on Guyana during the project, the teens found that Guyana has much to offer in terms of natural beauty as well as having on of the largest unspoiled rainforests in South America.Literacy,Cheap MLB Jerseys Store, however, is an area in which current Guyanese youth are far behind their peers in other countries. “We may have started the drive because it was part of our school requirement,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, but the reason that we’re seeing it through is not. The issue of illiteracy touched all three of our hearts,Sale NFL Jerseys,” Maharaj stated.It is not clear how and where the teenagers conducted their research, but according to a press release,Wholesale NFL Jerseys, their research showed that eleven per cent of youth in Guyana are illiterate. And many teachers are barely able to read themselves,Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys, according to Maharaj.For Maharaj and Cumblidge, the idea that children are unable to immerse themselves in the many worlds to which books open doors is unacceptable.The group has so far collected more than 700 books.They hope to amass 1,500 by the end of the drive. The members are appealing for donations from across Canada,NFL Jerseys Outlet, of all manner of books: fiction, non-fiction and even text books in their effort to make a small contribution to Guyana’s goal of a fully literate country.They know the book drive won’t solve the problem. But it is a start.The Rotary Club of White Rock Millennium has already stepped up to support the effort, and has committed to helping both with collecting books as well as their transport to Guyana.
