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Global READ Initiative

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                          SUPPORT OUR WORK
By joining us in this "Fight To Stop Illiteracy"

"The Slavery of Illiteracy"
There are so many quotes that speaks to the importance of reading, but I am in favor of this particular one by Frederick Douglas "Once you learn to read, you will be forever free".




Somewhere in recent time people have decided that the fundamental advantages of reading are no longer necessary and so now we are faced with an incredible quote by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Our Objective:
To help each child communicate by developing the ability to express thoughts both orally and in writing

To develop awareness in each child of the world around him/her and of his/her responsibility to it by interrelating subject matter with personal experience

To broaden each child’s horizon by exposing him/her to new experiences, people and places. To Boldly go where these children have never been before.

The Global R.E.A.D.
(Reading Equals Amazing Dialogue) Initiative brings to the forefront the importance for every child  in the world to read. Reading is the final frontier for  moving forward  and is a universal agreement for education throughout the world. 
This campaign is to raise money for The Youth Educational Volunteer Assistants (YEVA) quest to work with orphans in Carribean countries. These young people have been studing about the West Indies "Middle Passage", and feel strongly about helping children in these areas of the world.
Traveling to Jamaica for several years as a vacation,  I could not believe how poor the Jamaican people were and how little the people were educated, especially because of the wealth of the travel industry to this country.  Unlike here in the United States many Jamaicans have to pay for education pass primary school. What we take for granted in the United States, people have to fight to achieve in neighboring countries. Most Jamaicans are poorly educated and over 2/3 of the people are unskilled.
Countries of the West Indies (Carribean) is the Middle Passage.

We have been working with young people within the inner cities of Virginia for over five years. Many of these young people have continued to work within the organization and its programs. Our primary goal with this initiative is to help fight "The Slavery of Illiteracy".
It is disturbing how so many parents in poor and poverty stricken countries cannot take part in their child's education; or even worse abandons the child because of extreme poverty.
Abandonment issues is what we generally find happening in these two Caribbean countries, especially when it comes to under age girls who seem to be the target of every predator alive within these countries. For me the abandonment of their children was perhaps one of the most heartbreaking of all issues.


Our Global R.E.A.D. Initiative activity "No Cell Phones Allowed", is a workshop that give elementary (or basic) school aged children the chance to think critically by using board games, art work and other activities for mental stimulation. In other words, reading is the essential part of this activity. We started this activity here in the US and because the children loved the activities so much we have decided to take this activity to these countries as an ice breaker of who we are. The Global R.E.A.D. Initiative is a "World Wide Campaign" sponsored by the Youth R.E.A.D. Ambassadors (Reading Equals Amazing Dialogue) to work as Youth Educational Volunteer Assistants in four Jamaican and Haitian Orphanages, two Jamaican Schools and one church from each country.
The Youth READ Ambassadors are Teenagers from the inner city and public housing communities of several cities in Virginia. These young people have been working  for several years to become strong readers and they are the brightest of their peer group. They will work within these orphanages, schools and churches for 2-4 weeks at a time during their spring breaks and summer vacation months.

What a wonderful resume for many of these college bond children, children who were once considered throwaways from many of their own communities are now helpers of even poorer communities than the ones they came.Why do We Need So Much Money?
This is a continuous journey and not just a once in a life time field trip. Our goal is to build a trusting rapport with these orphanages which says "You can rely on our return".
Because we are taking no less than 15 people on these Educational Journeys, what YEVA  need to travel and safely stay in these countries is expensive.  As a matter of fact we need a lot more than we are currently looking to raise, but this is PHASE 1 of a much broader objective.

Jamaica is a Tourist country with extremely poor residents. Everything in this country is over priced including food. It is also necessary that the  Youth Educational Volunteer Assistants reside  in a safe environment. 
Tin used as roofing, and dirt floors with no indoor plumbing is a basic way of life for many within the country areas of Jamaica. I expect (for) many of YEVA will  come home with a new sense of appreciation of not only our educational system but also for much of what they take for granted. 
Only seventeen year old youth (and older) are allowed to travel to Haiti because of the massive issues this country is facing.
Also, please remember the young people who are traveling  to these countries come from inner city communities (in Virginia). They are the best behaved with the best grades and a natural for asking questions with wonder.

SOW A SEED

This Is How We Are Using The Money.
1st. To provide transportation, shelter, food and safety for the Youth Educational  Volunteer Assistants while in Jamaica and Haiti

2nd. To provide the necessary and much needed supplies to work as teachers in these orphanages,  Basic Schools, and Churches in Jamaica and Haiti.

3rd. To provide support and aid to the children of orphanages with school supplies, books, and in some cases food.

Financial BreaK Down Based on 3-years
Based upon 15 people (4-adults,  11-youths)

Mainland Youth Ambassadors Cost
15-Passenger Van .............................       $37,000.00
Insurance (3years) .............................        $  2,600.00
Maintenance (est.)...............................        $   7,500.00

Eighteen Recreational Centers (3-years)
Weekend & overnight cost
Hotel........................................................
Food.........................................................
Supplies For Teaching....................
Supplies For Learning.....................
Books......................................................

OverSeas Youth Ambassadors
Airfare  (estimate)..................................      $  9,000.00
Housing (2-weeks)................................      $20,700.00
Transportation (Land).........................       $  3,500.00
Food (50.00pp/per day).....................       $10,500.00
Miscellaneous fees based on 10%        $   4,370.00
Total $48,070.00 per year

Supplies For Teaching


Supplies For Learning


Meet a few of our R.E.A.D. Ambassadors
College Bound in 1-2-3-4 years.

Our Overal Objective:
To develop awareness in each child of the world around him/her and of his/her responsibility to it by interrelating subject matter with personal experience

To help each child communicate by developing the ability to express thoughts both orally and in writing

To broaden each child’s horizon by exposing him/her to new experiences, people and places. To Boldly go where these children have never been before.


Workshop
No Cell Phones Allowed has been "tried and made true". This is a fun-filled work shop of basic board games from Chutes and Ladders to Connect Four and Twister. The idea is to put down all gadgets including computers and learn to think strategically and critically in order to win. They are the games that many grew up with, and they require you to read and understand.

Finally
We love working with children. I dont believe there is a greater joy than having the opportunity to help young people grow and learn.
Global Read Initiative Include:
Reading and learning about World History; Geology; Oceanography and the English language. 
Each of these studies require basic forms and reading, and therefore allows for learning while reading to be accomplished.

Long Term Goals:

Organizer

Cathy Rainey
Organizer
Norfolk, VA

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