Scholars For Schools

Rotary International

Rotary International, with over 1.2 million members, is the world’s largest service organization that provides humanitarian services, encourages high ethical standards, and helps to build goodwill and peace throughout the world.

One of the ways Rotary accomplishes its goals is through the Ambassadorial Scholarship. Every year Rotary sends over 800 scholars throughout the world to further international understanding and strengthen relations among people from different countries. During their scholarship periods, which last three months to two years, scholars study at major universities, serve as goodwill ambassadors and work on international service projects in their host country.

Scholars for Schools

In 2008 four Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars studying in Valparaíso, Chile created Scholars for Schools, an all volunteer organization, to provide necessary literacy and technological resources for underprivileged children. Scholars for Schools is supported by US and Chilean Rotary clubs, two Chilean Rotaract clubs, and a host of individuals who are dedicated to improving literacy and education in central Chile.

The Problem

Chile has some of the most expensive books in the world. High publishing costs and a 19 percent value added tax (VAT) on all book sales makes reading an expensive luxury that most Chilean families cannot afford. In 2006 a survey conducted by La Fuente, an international literacy foundation, revealed that more than 72 percent of Chilean homes never or almost never bought books and 93 percent of Chileans were not members of any library.

Unfortunately Chile’s high cost of books limits many educational opportunities, not just for poor children, but middle class children as well. The densely populated urban region of Valparaiso is home to over 1.5 million people and some of the poorest isolated populations in Chile. Within the lower socioeconomic classes, the problem with access to libraries and literacy resources for students is magnified. During our research, we visited ten public schools in the greater Valparaiso area to assess their literacy resources. We found that, due to the lack of resources and funding, none of the schools had a functional library and students only had access to a small fraction of their required reading.

The Solution

Scholars for Schools works with five Chilean and US Rotary districts, two Chilean Rotaract clubs, school administrators, teachers, and community leaders to construct libraries and provide books and computers for underfunded elementary schools in central Chile.

The scholars begin by researching, visiting, and choosing a school that lacks basic literacy tools. Once a school is chosen, the scholars work with the administration to create a literacy development and library construction plan.

After all the necessary materials are purchased, Scholars for Schools solicits the help of local volunteers, Rotarians, and Rotaract members to transform the school’s available rooms into much needed libraries and multimedia centers.

Through the building of these libraries, Scholars for Schools carries out Rotary’s continued commitment to high quality education, a fundamental aspect of every prosperous society, and ensures that underprivileged children receive the tools they need for a bright and successful future.