Contact: Dr. Donna Simon (304) 766-3363 dsimon@wvstateu.edu
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – Underprivileged youth at a small school in Central America received supplies and materials recently from a group of West Virginia State University (WVSU) students as part of an international service project. Notebooks, crayons, glue, erasers, pencils and other items were distributed to students by the Lambda Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education.
Supplies were taken to La Escuela de Duarte Melendez, located in Soyapango, El Salvador, prior to the start of their new school year. School supplies are a costly but necessary expense that the school, which operates with no air conditioning and limited resources, struggles to acquire.
“It is difficult for teachers to keep supplies like pencils and erasers for every student,” said Stephanie Berry, president of Kappa Delta Pi. “Children are often required to share, which slows the learning process.”
The project was the first time the Lambda Zeta Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi sponsored an international outreach project. “The teachers and students of La Escuela de Duarte Melendez were so grateful,” said Berry. “It is our hope that this project will be a small step toward helping every child have a positive educational experience.”
Items were distributed to students by Kaitlyn Dewhurst, a representative of the Lambda Zeta Chapter. Dewhurst will travel to El Salvador again this summer to bring supplies to the school.