“A book is a gift you can open again and again” were the words of American writer Garrison Keillor.

This summer the Santa Clarita Valley community will be able to share the gift of reading by joining efforts with the Literacy Mission to Nicaragua to help improve literacy and education by establishing libraries in five northern villages in that country. The Literacy mission will take place this August at the end of the College of the Canyons study abroad trip to Central America.

Each library costs about $450 to set up and will include a complete instructional library with texts appropriate for children ranging from kindergarten to tenth grade. Interested participants are encouraged to make a donation and/or join the mission. The students on the study abroad trip will participate by donating bags of medicine and school supplies. Claudia Acosta, foreign languages department chair; Carl Boyer, former Santa Clarita Mayor; and Tom Veloz, CEO of Ultra Violet Devices; will lead the trip.

“I am very excited about this project, because as an educator, I truly believe that everyone is entitled to an education,” said Acosta. “Participants in the mission have the privilege of not only promoting literacy in the world, but also the opportunity to learn about people and communities, the lack of resources, and the challenges others must face in everyday life.”

The literacy rate in Nicaragua is approximately 68 percent compared to 96 percent in Costa Rica and 99 percent in the United States. Nicaragua is also the second poorest country in Latin America, with Haiti ranking number one. Community members can be a part of this important project by either traveling with the group or by making a donation toward that end. To find out more information on the Literacy Mission to Nicaragua, please contact Claudia Acosta at (661) 362-3530 or at claudia.acosta@canyons.edu.