The G.O.Y.A. Project

Hi everyone!! Our annual Walk for Literacy is scheduled for Saturday, October 9. Mark your calendars as we prepare for this event to promote literacy locally and abroad. Hundreds of people including student organizations, faculty, local business owners, and members of the New Brunswick community will gather at Passion Puddle to walk to College Ave campus with the common goal of improving literacy worldwide.

“No skill is more crucial to the future of a child, or to a democratic and prosperous society, than literacy”

This quote, from the LA Times, captures the essence of the purpose for the Walk for Literacy, and the aims of this organization. Check this page often for updates on the walk. We look forward to seeing you there!

What an incredible turn-out despite the weather!

Enthusiastic supporters of Global Literacy!

The G.O.Y.A. Project and GLP Inc.  would like to say “thank you” to the over twenty five organizations and family groups along with all the other individuals who made the exceptional effort to turn out for the Walk-for-Literacy today.

Despite the discouraging weather, we were still able to have an incredible turn-out.  When we saw the dozens upon dozens of people lining up it truly made us feel part of helping change the world. We appreciate all your support and please know that you all have helped in making a difference!!

Meryl Ironson and Assemblyman Chivukula speaking at start of walkathon

We are also so very appreciative to educator Meryl Ironson of the Bragg School who came and spoke so wonderfully and movingly about the work she is doing through he Global Literacy Project with young students in Africa. It was wonderful to hear about how these young students are now sharing stories and poetry with their counterparts in New Jersey.

A heartfelt thank you to Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula who braved the weather to kick off our 2009 Walk for Literacy. We hope to continue working with the Assemblyman on his initiative to supply backpacks of school supplies to New Jersey students. We were also inspired to hear how literacy allowed him to rise out of poverty in rural India to eventually study in the USA and become an Electrical Engineer.

G.O.Y.A. Project E-board

A special thank you to our co-sponsors: Alpha Kappa Psi, Black Student Union, Delta Epsilon Iota, Ileret Education Association, Iota Phi Theta, Lambda Sigma Upsilon, Lambda Upsilon Lambda, Pre-Law Society & Sigma Lambda Upsilon; as well as ALL the volunteers from today. We couldn’t have done it without all of you!

Thank you again!

The G.O.Y.A. Project E-board
Global Literacy Project, Inc.

The G.O.Y.A. Project at Rutgers seeks to draw together students who have a sense that volunteerism is as much part of our education as formal academic class work. By volunteering side-by-side with people from around the world, and from all economic backgrounds, we learn from each other and sensitize ourselves to global issues. GOYA believes that we are all world citizens who must contribute to world welfare. One of the ways to promote this vision is achieved through their annual “Walk for Literacy” event—held in conjunction with The Global Literacy Project, the walkathon’s continuing partner—the second Saturday of October (International School Libraries Month).

We believe that being able to act locally, such as in providing literacy and learning supplies for children in New Brunswick, New Jersey, can be done as a simultaneous project with providing the same opportunities for children in places such as Latin America, Africa or Asia.

All proceeds will go to support a vision of assisting communities locally and globally.

• Locally: We plan to provide bilingual books and literacy materials for English Language Learners participating in a “Take Reading Home” pilot in nursery and kindergarten classrooms throughout New Brunswick. We also plan to supply new library books for a junior high school in Roselle, New Jersey.
• Globally: We are support Dalit school children in South India and the Global Literacy Project’s Africa programs for kindergarten children—especially the support of kindergarten children in the slums of Kibera, Kenya—the largest slum in East Africa and rural schools in a location of western Kenya.