Wa Gwan 2010 People??!

It's a new year, and the new dates have been announced for the 2010 GreatShape! Inc. projects. All ov my friends know that I am involved with the 1000 Smiles portion of the program, but there are other areas of the communities that we serve that involve eye care, literacy, and school based computer programs. Here is a little info on the SuperKids Literacy Program:

GREAT SHAPE! SuperKids

Great Shape! Inc. expanded its literacy-empowerment program in the fall of 2008. Volunteers partnered with several schools; implementing curriculum to improve programs in literacy, computers, art, music and sports.

Great Shape! SuperKids is the evolution of our Book in a Bag project. In 2006 Great Shape! partnered with First Book (based on the East Coast) to get books into the hands of Jamaican children. We first supplied 5,000 books to Jamaican schools and created the lending program. Students fill their bag with books, take them home, bring them back and trade for others. At the pilot school in Grange Hill, the excitement about reading has already improved ten-fold, including reading contests and performances.

In the schools that team up with Great Shape! Inc. six out of ten children do NOT read at a basic level. Plus, Jamaica does not have a printing industry; all books are imported onto the Island. This makes books expensive and rare.

Great Shape! SuperKids will use several programs to continue improving the reading levels of Jamaica's children. We partner with the Jamaican Ministry of Education and Sandals Resorts International.

In the next coming days I am going to put together my information packet for how to get involved and make the trek as a volunteer, and also how you can help without leaving the comfort of your own home -- but believe me: going on the trip to Negril, Ocho Rios, or Montego Bay is an experience you will never forget, I can not say enough great things about the program!

Ok, more to come soon.. Get ready to get involved!