The community of Beterou and its surrounding villages do not have electricity or telephones and as such are isolated from much of the outside world. For this reason books play a particularly vital role in the education and literacy of the students in these communities introducing the students to new ideas, people, places, ideals, struggles, adventures, and successes. The proposed Literacy Initiative will be a resource center stocked with a classroom set of books on each subject and grade level. Since most students cannot afford to purchase their textbooks the only source of information is the teacher. The Literacy Initiative will give students access to textbooks in and outside of class and will help them develop individual thought, self-reliance, and problem solving skills. Partnership funds are needed to purchase books in the subjects of Biology, Geography, Math, Physics, English, and French. Dictionaries will also be purchased. The community of Beterou has already contributed a library room, supplies such as furniture and materials, and a dedicated librarian who will oversee the Literacy Initiative.
