Millions of children around the world are hungry to learn, but are illiterate and have nobooks, schools, or libraries. Instead, they spend hours each daycarrying heavy containers of water on their heads for miles, or work hard to support their families. Poor children in Nicaragua with disabilities have it worst as they are invisible to their families, and the government cannot provide any social services.
With the help of community organizer and library extraordinaire Rosa Lilliam Gomez (pictured here with one of her students), and her daughter Karen, we are starting a second lending library called “Rosa” in the community of Ciudadela San Martin. This lending library will focus onhandicapped children and their special needs. These special children will be able to enjoy books, storytelling, arts and crafts, and freely interact with their peers.
Libraries do exist in Nicaragua, but books cannot be checked out to enjoy at home. Our libraries allow children and their families to not only enjoy books on the premises but also helps parents realize the potential of their disabled children.
With the help of the students and parents of Public School 87 in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, we were able to send four suitcases full of Spanish children’s books and art supplies to help start the “Rosa” library. It is amazing what can be accomplished by a group of determined people who have the drive and will to make a difference.