
We are excited to announce that the body of children’s literature in the Marshall Islands is about to undergo a transformation. For the 2012–2013 academic year, WorldTeach Marshall Islands has partnered with The Unbound Bookmaker, an online publishing business that will take the stories from students all around the Marshall Islands and publish those stories on Amazon.com in the form of a class book. The children will have the opportunity, with the help of their WorldTeach volunteer, to write, revise, edit, illustrate, and finally receive their own copy of the book at the end of the school year.
Additionally, through this project we hope to give children confidence in their creative endeavors and a reason to stay in school. The finished book will give them a sense of pride and accomplishment. Moreover, this is a chance to provide literature for other children in the Marshall Islands (the current number of available Marshallese children’s books can be counted on one hand). The 30 class books will be published in both English and Marshallese.
As we endeavor to provide this authorship experience for up to 900 Marshallese children this year, we ask for your assistance in purchasing supplies (paper and colored pencils) and providing funds for publishing and printing costs so that each child can receive a copy, as well as the local school library.
Donations can be given through our WorldTeach website. Follow This Link to visit the site. The cost of producing and printing class books for around thirty students is $480, and there are 30 WorldTeach volunteers this year. You may consider teaming up with friends to sponsor a class. Donations of any amount are tax-deductible. We also ask that you pass the word along to anyone interested in participating in this wonderful outpouring of new literary and cultural works from those who need it most.
A test run of this project was conducted in May 2012; the result was The Important Book about Majuro, which will be available for purchase on Amazon.com by June 30, 2012. We will receive no royalties from sales, so please make sure to donate if you enjoy the book.
Pictures from the test run at Majuro Cooperative School and powerful short stories written by the children after the book was completed can be found at http://www.unboundbookmaker.com/the-unbound-bookmaker-project.html.
Thank you for supporting literacy in the Marshall Islands. It is a gift that keeps giving.
Laura Sundblad and Todd Mulroy
Field Directors of WorldTeach Marshall Islands
As we endeavor to provide this authorship experience for up to 900 Marshallese children this year, we ask for your assistance in purchasing supplies (paper and colored pencils) and providing funds for publishing and printing costs so that each child can receive a copy, as well as the local school library.
Donations can be given through our WorldTeach website. Follow This Link to visit the site. The cost of producing and printing class books for around thirty students is $480, and there are 30 WorldTeach volunteers this year. You may consider teaming up with friends to sponsor a class. Donations of any amount are tax-deductible. We also ask that you pass the word along to anyone interested in participating in this wonderful outpouring of new literary and cultural works from those who need it most.
A test run of this project was conducted in May 2012; the result was The Important Book about Majuro, which will be available for purchase on Amazon.com by June 30, 2012. We will receive no royalties from sales, so please make sure to donate if you enjoy the book.
Pictures from the test run at Majuro Cooperative School and powerful short stories written by the children after the book was completed can be found at http://www.unboundbookmaker.com/the-unbound-bookmaker-project.html.
Thank you for supporting literacy in the Marshall Islands. It is a gift that keeps giving.
Laura Sundblad and Todd Mulroy
Field Directors of WorldTeach Marshall Islands