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My name is Virginia McNair and I am part of the Reyes family. Our journey began with my 1980 Peace Corps assignment to the county of Pilalo in Cotopaxi, Ecuador. There I met Orfay Reyes, we married, had two children, and subsequently moved to the United States.
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Over the years, we returned to the parroquias (parishes) of El Tingo/La Esperanza and Pilalo to visit family. Celeste and Lucas, our children, were exposed to the differences in their lives and the lives of the children in this dramatically beautiful, but severely underserved area of Ecuador. They realized that had we not moved to the US, their lives would have been very, very, different. Moved by that realization, they started READ in 2010.
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We are a very small organization with limited resources, but we have managed to make a difference. As the only public library system in the state of Cotopaxi, we have two library sites. We lend books, provide internet access and give computer classes. READ has a work-study program for at-risk youth and a sponsorship program to help children that live in extreme poverty.
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In 2012, Orfay and I returned to live in Ecuador. Together with the input of our dedicated staff of 3 local women, READ will continue to evolve as an organization that works to recognize and meet the needs of our communities.
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Virginia McNair, READ Director
The Story of READ
Why READ?
Rural Education Advancement and Development
An obstacle to the future economic success of the people in this rural part of Ecuador is a lack of educational opportunities post-high school. We work with agrarian societies of both indigenous and mestizo ethnic backgrounds. Many people did not have the opportunity to finish primary school. We tailor each of our two education resource centers to the community’s individual needs and hire staff from the community. Our free services include internet access, lending books, computer classes, assistance navigating the internet, a work-study program, assistance with homework and school projects, a child sponsorship program, and various educational programs for children and adults. We coordinate with other agencies whenever possible to broaden the services provided through our facilities.