Be a part of creating a library from scratch!
Staff chosen, Board funded:
We’re installing a library at Latinoamericana Elementary School!
Providing Books
Inspiring Students
Empowering Teachers
Take part in our special project!
Our dedicated staff works tirelessly with schools in our program, driven by a deep passion for improving students' quality of life through access to vibrant, inspiring, and culturally relevant books. They also empower teachers with the tools and skills to make the most of their new collections.
Typically, our projects are shaped by donor priorities, with schools selected based on specific funding requirements. But, this time is different. This time, our staff identified a school in the heart of Tegucigalpa that they felt deeply deserved a library. They’ll be leading the charge, purely based on their own collective vision. Without a designated donor for this project, our incredible Board of Directors stepped up, taking the lead in fundraising to make this library a reality. Their unwavering commitment to strengthening the culture of reading in Honduras is evident, as they invest their time, expertise, and leadership to ensure more children have access to books.
At Chispa Project, we follow a six-step process to create sustainable school libraries, from building community partnerships and training teachers to equipping libraries with quality Spanish books. With your support, we can bring this transformative process to a school in Tegucigalpa, benefiting hundreds of students. Together, we can empower this school with the tools it needs to thrive and spark a passion for reading and learning. Help us make it happen!
Checks can be made out to:
Chispa Project
10556 Combie Road, Suite 6643
Auburn, CA 95602
Learn about Latinoamericana Elementary School
Why was this school the staff’s choice?
It was the incredible dedication of the stakeholders at Latinoamericana Elementary School that inspired them to choose this school. They noted that the Principal, Henry Molina, was interested in more than just literacy; he cares for supporting the students’ holistic development, including their creativity and emotional wellbeing, all of which will be more deeply developed in a library. The parents were also engaged in a way that stood out to our staff; they asked numerous questions that illustrated their interest and commitment to understanding their role in the project. Finally, the teachers are clearly dedicated to their students. They have utilized their own salaries to buy what books they can to the school to support their pedagogy. The incredible dedication of all stakeholders speaks volumes as to how we know they’ll take ownership of their brand new library!
When will the library be installed?
Official dates for this installation will be announced soon! We’re confident we’ll inaugurate the library mid-July.
Where is the school located?
Latinoamericana Elementary School is a public school located in Tegucigalpa, the capitol of Honduras!
How many students will be impacted?
Latinoamericana Elementary School supports 232 students from grades Kindergarten to 9th grade.
How many teachers will receive training and individualized support?
Chispa Project will be supporting 17 staff members, including the school librarian, in maximizing the use of their library.
How many books will be donated?
We stock our libraries with a ratio of 2 books per student, accounting for various levels, genres, and topic of interest. We strive to ensure that there is something that will captivate every learner!
How will we ensure the sustainability of this library?
Our Reignite Initiative, launched last year (2024), gave us insight into the time and support needed to fully support an educational community in establishing a culture of reading among their students and teachers. So, we’ll be providing 2 years of strategic support to the staff, parents, and students at Latinoamericana Elementary School. With at least 15 trips that we’ll be making to the school and consistent support between visits, we’re confident that we’ll be providing the Latinoamericana educational community with the structure to carry to program forward sustainably thereafter.
Love this project? Become a sponsor!
We have a special sponsorship program where you can partially
or fully sponsor a library individually or with an organization or business.
Check out the perks of the sponsor program and how to maximize your impact.
What all does the library program entail?
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This library includes:
A year-long training program for the school on how to run and maintain a library and ways to incorporate reading into everyday classes.
750 children’s books of unique titles
Shelving, decorations, cushions, mats, painted murals to decorate library and each classroom
Parent workshop for developing reading habits from home
Library inauguration celebration with reading activities and arts and crafts for all the students
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All our schools have to go through a rigorous vetting process. We look for schools that demonstrate dedication to incorporating a library and integrating reading habits into everyday classroom reading activities.
The school commits to creating a committee of parents and teachers who will run and promote the library with training from Chispa Project. They also commit to fundraising approximately 4% of the total library costs.
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Creating school libraries, providing teacher development opportunities, and international volunteer partnerships, Chispa Project works with Honduran educational institutions to spark a passion for learning within local communities. Approximately 70,000 books have been brought to more than 110 different institutions to create school libraries since 2016.
Chispa Project has a unique approach in bringing books directly to schools in a community-driven development approach. Library programs are implemented together with a school’s library committee made up of teachers, parents, and students to manage the library. The committees create a plan of action and guide the direction and layout of their library space and activities offered.
