South Range teachers join Room to Read

Jun 17, 2010 — The Derry News

Julie Huss

Jun. 16, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- DERRY -- Two South Range Elementary School teachers hope to help bring global change to students living around the world.

Stacey VanAlstine and Laura O'Brien are organizing a New Hampshire chapter of Room to Read, an organization that works to help educate millions of children in developing countries, mostly by focusing on literacy and gender quality in education.

At a meeting last week, both VanAlstine and O'Brien said they are very excited about the project.

"I thought we should do something," said O'Brien, who teaches first grade.

She and VanAlstine had the opportunity to travel to New York City to meet Room to Read founder John Wood. They said they found him inspiring. Wood works diligently to help bring literacy skills and education to children in nine countries, including Vietnam, Laos, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Room to Read has volunteer chapters in many major cities and areas around the globe. Volunteers organize events and special activities to fund educational services for needy children, including money to buy books, build schools and implement programs to help with learning.

Girls are especially a strong focus of Room to Read, as many young women in developing countries are barred from adequate education due to economic conditions and cultural barriers.

Money raised from Room to Read fundraisers also helps support publishing books for children in their own languages.

Both O'Brien and VanAlstine said they have used some of the Room to Read books in their own classrooms to encourage children at South Range how to think globally and find ways to help others.

It doesn't take much to make a difference, O'Brien said. Only $1 can publish a book; $250 can send a girl to school for an entire year in a developing country; and another $14,000 can build an entire library.

The two women hope to find partners in the community to help with the Room to Read effort and volunteers are needed.

A Facebook page is set up already and all are invited to join the team. O'Brien and VanAlstine said regular meetings will be scheduled to help plan events. All input is greatly appreciated, they said.

"The goal is to educate 10 million children by the year 2015," O'Brien said.

To find out more about Room to Read, visit www.roomtoread.org, or e-mail new.hampshire@roomtoread.org.

Newstex ID: KRTB-1048-46171052