Leer y Crecer, the American School of Puerto Vallarta's community service project

History of LEER Y CRECER

Students created the LEER y CRECER program, initially, to provide books for and promote reading in Puerto Va11arta's public schools. According to their vision statement, students hoped "to enrich every aspect of children's lives by sharing the joy of reading.” In their mission statement for 2008-2009, students broadened that goal to include the elderly in the community.

The program has expanded since its founding. During the first year, NHS members focused on informing and training their school community about reading advocacy through staff-led workshops offered to students, parents and teachers. They also visited schools to get a better idea of specific needs. This led to the realization that students would be more receptive to using the books if there were an activity devoted to that end. Thus, NHS members created a reading circle with five high school students and a group of 40 public school children.

The second year saw students; involved in fund-raising as well as ordering, packing and delivering sets of 100 books to nine schools. They also bought books in Braille for children with disabilities, worked as volunteers in schools and libraries, and offered an 18-hour workshop for public school teachers in reading advocacy. At their own school, the NHS students desig­ned puppet and educational poster workshops. Puerto Vallarta students volunteered at schools setting up libraries, helped cover books, designed a card catalogue and organized books.

During the third year, student donated sets of books to eleven public schools, offered two teacher workshops, organized fund­raising activities, presented LEER y CRECER to the Secretary of Education for the state of Jalisco, and were officially recognized.

Finally, in the course of the past school year, NHS students held a retreat to write the objectives for the year, visited a rural public school and read with children in the village plaza.The objectives mentioned include the following: encourage more involvement from the Puerto Vallarta school community, identify 10 new schools to receive books and library support, raise funds for books

and materials, and coordinate reading sessions with the elderly at a center in Puerto Vallarta.

Project evaluation

LEER y CRECER has had a tremendous impact on the American School of Puerto Vallarta community and the region at large. The numbers are impressive: 7,691 persons have benefitted from the program, inc1uding 381 students and 20 teachers at the American School, approximately 7,200 students and 60 teachers and principals in public schools, 15 staff members at the Secretary of Education and 15 local Rotary members.

However, according to the project evaluation. "Perhaps more significant is the impact the project has had on various groups in our community. Among public school children, LEER y CRECER has brought more access to reading for pleasure, whether it be in reading circles, classroom libraries, school libraries or community mobile libraries. The smiles of these children when they have books in their hands are brilliant." What's more, public school teachers and principals also appreciate the program’s benefits. According to principal Juan José Alejo, ''The motivation that is inspired through [the work­shop] is so valuable in becoming better advocates for reading."

For NHS students, "the project has provided a focus and an instrument for modeling and teaching skills in leadership and character. Each year, the group has gained more and more experience in planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating projects."

Finally, since LEER y CRECER's inception, participation by "American School students in community service projects has increased significantly." Community service is not required at Puerto Vallarta because "we feel that it should be voluntary and intrinsically motivated. When five years ago we were lucky to have 5% of our middle and high school students developing service projects, we now have 60%-70% participation. Students are actually ASKING what they can do to help and becoming leaders of their own group service projects."

TheTri-Association will present the Community Service Award for the spectacular LEER y CRECER project to American School of Puerto Vallarta representatives at its annual educators' conference to be held in Santo Domingo in October. Congratulations to the National Honor Society members of the American School of Puerto Vallarta and to all other students involved in this inspiring effort.