Community & Multimedia Learning Centers

Although each GLP site reflects its particular community, all provide similar resources: at least about 5,000 books with a general reading area as well as a women’s focus section; a section with books focusing on young adult themes and a children’s section with educational books, games, and toys; and a multimedia center with 1-5 computers.
Community Learning Centers (CLCs)

Community Learning Centers are initiatives created by and mobilised from the community. Community people are responsible for maintaining and determining the activities of the CLC and as such a given CLC will offer a variety of activities related to many aspects of life in the community.

CLCs are places that providing lifelong learning opportunities to everyone in the community in order
to:

  • Empower them to become self-reliant
  • Improve their quality of life
  • Develop their community

CLCs can help mobilise and generate potential resources in the community to address pertinent issues such as the alleviation of poverty and improving the quality of life.

Because the CLC alone cannot carry out all the activities needed in the community, it must work with community
groups concerned with development as well as get support from government organizations as well as non-government organizations (NGOs).

Finally, CLCs provide not only services but also help review, monitor and give feedback by documenting
the findings of the community development activities as a basis for planning future activities.

Multimedia Learning Centers

For selected locations, the Global Literacy Project, Inc. will facilitate the creation of Multimedia Learning Centers.

These centers will be made up of a mixture of 5-15 Apple and PC computers installed with basic word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.Users will also have access to several science, math and literacy development programs.

We often place Multimedia Learning Centers in public libraries or public schools where maximum access is possible.

The GLP Five Step Program

  1. GLP donates five to fifteen computers to the local government ministry or NGO partner in the participating country.
  2. The recipient entity is responsible for maintaining and distributing the computers to local schools and community learning centers.
  3. GLP provides instructors to the recipient country to teach an intensive course to selected teachers of the schools/CLCs receiving the computers.
  4. Local instructors are taught how to operate the machines as well as educational strategies useful for teaching computer skills.
  5. The recipient entity establishes a computer education program at the schools/CLCs for the general public.
Objectives

GLP Community Learning Centers are aimed towards working with community partners in order to achieve the following key objectives:

  • To increase academic achievement of students in math and reading
  • To provide students access to positive, enriching activities during out-of-school hours, helping them build personal, social and leadership skills
  • To serve as a resource for parents and other community members to improve literacy skills, parenting skills, family well being and to develop computer technology skills
  • To provide academic, social, and family support to students transitioning from elementary to middle school, from middle school to high school and beyond
  • To increase capacity of schools, staff, parents, students and community partners to plan, implement and sustain neighborhood based community learning center activities.