Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - At the end of 2014, the award-winning student leadership and service program Leer y Crecer (Read & Grow) at the American School of Puerto Vallarta (ASPV) received another personal delivery of funding from the Rotary Club of Invermere, British Columbia, Canada.

The Canadian Rotary Club partnered with the Bay of Banderas and International Rotary Clubs in 2005 to help found Leer y Crecer with the National Honor Society chapter at ASPV. The group is composed of Mexican and foreign high school students who are trained in and maintain the highest levels of scholarship, service, leadership, and character in their community.

The mission of the Leer y Crecer program is to spread the joy of reading by supporting public and rural CONAFE school libraries and offering teacher workshops in reading advocacy and strategies. The workshops are offered by Mstra. Kyliel Casillas, Spanish language and literature teacher at the American School of Puerto Vallarta and the Preparatoria Jacobo. Casillas is also a well-known promotora de lectura in our community and a poet, author of 'Festejo de Madrugada, Papalotzi Ed.'

Over the past ten years, and with the continual support from Invermere's Rotary Club, Leer y Crecer has been able to serve over 50 schools in Puerto Vallarta, the Bay of Banderas, Cabo Corrientes, and Tomatlán, reaching over 12,000 children in our community.

Led by NHS adviser Lisa Schalla of ASPV, the 13 National Honor Society students are excited to begin a new project with the $16,000 pesos donated from Rotary Invermere. During this school year, they will invite teachers from public afternoon-shift (vespertino) elementary schools to a workshop in reading advocacy and to participate in a contest called Nuestra Biblioteca. Schools will be asked to submit a project proposal, indicate how teachers, parents, and students will be involved, and receive funding and participation from the Leer y Crecer program.

Over the years, Leer y Crecer has had many community partnerships, including the Los Mangos Library, the International Friendship Club, the University of Minnesota, the ASPV community, and various individuals. The goal is to work together with others with the same goal in providing richer educational experiences to the children in our communities.

For any questions or donations, please contact the ASPV High School Office at (322) 221-1525, ext. 301 or camerica(at)aspv.edu.mx. For more information on Leer y Crecer, please visit aspv.edu.mx/nhs-leer-y-crecer.