Project Launch:

World Connect’s Kids to Kids program awarded a $500 grant in 2009 to the Escojo Mi Vida Library Project to help establish a library in the town of Rancho Manuel in the Dominican Republic. The town of Rancho Manuel has roughly 500 inhabitants with more than 120 elementary school students who benefitted from the increased supply of books. The library was built on land adjacent to the school and in addition to the elementary school students who were involved in the project, high-school students also supported the project in both maintaining the building and the books. High school students also formed a new reading group that was launched by a Peace Corps Volunteer. The library is now open to the general public, and books of all reading levels were purchased and a wide range of events continue to be held there.