 Inside a classroom, a teacher draws attention.
Can you imagine a school without a library or children without books
readily available at their fingertips? These thoughts motivated former
area residents Linda and Stephen Curran to move to Mexico and
establish Literacy Amidst Amity Inc. (LAAI), a nonprofit start-up that
promotes literacy through education and libraries in central Mexico.
 Linda and Stephen Curran.
Driven by the Currans’ entrepreneurial spirit, the organization brings to San Miguel de Allende, four programs that build libraries in public schools, offer English instruction to children, sponsor instructional seminars for teachers on current methodologies and provide small-business consulting, emphasizing planning and cash-flow analysis.
The Currans may now live thousands of miles away from Arlington, but their commitment to improving the sustainable future of youth through literacy affects the lives of all who surround them. Their team looks to you to offer additional support.
In Mexico, English language classes historically are limited to public school students and consequently widens the employment gap for disadvantaged children who are unable to compete for job opportunities locally and throughout Mexico that require English fluency.
 Exterior of school in San Miguel de Allende.
As such, LAAI's first priority had been the building of Spanish libraries and establishing the English school. The Currans' dream became a reality last Jan. 7, when the group's English Language School opened its doors to local primary and secondary students who are unable to afford alternative private schools.
The monthly tuition cost for each student, $15 US, is subsidized by Literacy scholarships. All tuition funds are used to purchase books for the installation of libraries in public schools. Every dollar donated to the cause directly supports these activities.
Currently, most Mexican schools do not have libraries. LAAI’s Resource Center Library Program aims to establish full-service libraries in public schools in collaboration with the school, community and local organizations. Parent and community volunteers will promote literacy and foster positive attitudes toward reading by engaging students to read for education, information, and pleasure from a variety of genre.
LAAI has targeted the installation of the first library by the end of the third quarter. The Currans expect the libraries to offer quality fiction, nonfiction and reference books in Spanish for children, adolescents, teachers and parents in Mexican primary and secondary public schools.
Looking to 2009, the Curran intend the nonprofit to develop educational programs to train and support Mexican teachers and local small businesses. The programs include workshops about current educational practices through collaboration with local universities and training in business planning, cash-flow management, start-up initiatives, success and growth.
In return, participants will volunteer time in the libraries and English School.
What led them to Mexico?
In an e-mail, Mrs. Curran called it "a realignment of my moral compass, following a three-week volunteer effort in Central Mexico in the summer of 2003."
That led her, she wrote, "to provide literacy support to the disadvantaged Mexican people, who lack education and job opportunities in the native land that they love. The Mexican people are rich in family tradition, empathy, and a desire to advance.
"Life has afforded us abundances. Cultivating the development and welfare of our greatest resource, people, we desire to coalesce in a caring society. "
Before her relocation from Fairfax, Va., to the Boston area, she taught four years in the Loudoun County schools, outside Washington, D.C. After arriving in Lexington, she taught at the Dallin from 1995 to 2005, taking a year leave of absence within those dates to obtain a master of science Degree at Simmons College.
More information about the ninprofit >>
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Every dollar donated is allocated to support the organization with the
majority (91%) of donations going directly to libraries. All donations
are tax- deductible.
The Currans welcome monetary donations. They can support the libraries
through the purchase of books and/or wood to construct the bookshelves,
tables, and chairs. Such donations also can sponsor a child attending
English School ($15 per child per month).
$15 to give an a child an education for one month
$180 to sponsor a child´s education for a year
$50 to provide a Bookcase in Your Name
$1,000 to build a Classroom in Your Name
$2,500 to open a Library in Your Name
The couple welcomes book donations to support the libraries. Please
inscribe your name on the front inside cover of the book, to include,
“To Literacy Amidst Amity, Inc., Generously Donated By . . .”
The Currans welcome you to visit our organization to view, participate
and volunteer in these initiatives. Our location in central Mexico is:
Antonio Plaza #21, Colonia Guadalupe, San Miguel de Allende,
Guanajuato, Mexico, 37750.
The nonprofit's Web site is under development; meanwhile, contact them
via e-mail at
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
or
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
They also welcome in-kind donations. The wish list includes computers,
computer programs (PC, not Mac), books on audiotape, math and literacy
games, children´s videos in Spanish or English, copy paper, manila file
folders, writing paper, writing tablets and printer ink (HP #20, HP#21,
Xerox #3119).
Checks, payable to Literacy Amidst Amity, Inc., books, or donations in-kind should be mailed to:
Literacy Amidst Amity, Inc.
P.O. Box 457
Lexington, Mass. 02420
The author is a volunteer writer/editor for YourArlington.
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