ALLOUEZ, Wis. — We first introduced you to Tyler and Rebekah Clark a few years ago. They started a Go Fund Me to build a library in a poor community in Mexico. Now, they're changing lives across the globe through their non-profit organization called Village Book Builders. The Clark's want to bring the gift of books to as many impoverished children as possible.
"The light in their eyes is just amazing to see as they get excited about all the things they can learn and do in their lives," explained Rebekah.
The couple has helped build three libraries so far; two in Mexico and the most recent in Ghana, Africa.
"You will never experience a deeper level of poverty than I saw there, but you'll also never experience people that are more happy," Tyler chuckled.
He hopes the books and computers his non-profit donated will not only bring more smiles but will also set the children up for future success.
"They've never had a library before in that city. Also, none of the kids could go on to middle school or high school because they didn't have computers, and you have to take a test to do that. So, a lot of the kids were like, 'Why go to school? I might as well go work.'"
The Clarks, and the volunteers who travel with them, work alongside the villagers to not only build a library but also to create a reading culture at home.
Tyler said, "It's just a such a transformative experience for them, because they've never had that before."
The goal is to have each child read three books per month. He said academic scores have already gone up.
"They had such a hunger to learn."
Right now, the Clarks are spending the holiday season back in Mexico building two libraries in two Mayan communities in the Yucatan peninsula. We spoke with them before they left.
"These are very inviting, very warm people," Tyler explained. "They've been preparing for the last year to get a library. They've been doing bake sales, fundraisers, whatever they can to do their part."
Saint Norbert College students are among the more 30 volunteers on the trip.
"I feel like I don't take the privilege I have to read every day, and I'm excited to see the joy that we can bring to them by showing them how important reading is," said Hannah Airoldi, a junior at St. Norbert.
Elementary education major Evie Zaker has learned in her college classes how reading benefits young minds that are thirsty for knowledge.
"Even just a book a night, their test scores are going up. Their attention in class or in life is higher, because you're interested in this. Your vocabulary is increasing," Zaker explained.
The Clarks said the college students bring an added level of excitement as they transform a poor village into a place with greater opportunities.
"It's been so heartwarming to see the reaction from people, to see how many people are passionate about helping people they've never met. But for these people, it makes the world of difference," said Tyler.
In 2019, the Clarks have big plans to build five more libraries in Malawi, Nepal and Peru. Click those links for information on how you can volunteer.
