The Bookmarks Program - Building Bridges to Education

The Mark Victor Hansen Foundation supports the growing needs of men, women and children throughout the world who are illiterate. The Foundation views literacy as a basic human right and integral to the solutions for poverty, access to health care, and educating children. Studies have shown, that a one level increase in literacy can mean an average of 10 percent increase in income. Literacy is critical for generating broad economic development across countries or regions. The Foundation’s Bookmarks program supports the establishment of libraries and schools around the world with funding, entrepreneurial literacy content (deliverable in all physical and digital mediums: live trainings, books, audio, video, podcasts), and other educational materials to aide in personal and professional development.

Recent Projects:

 

The Little Yellow School House

The Mark Victor Hansen Foundation supports the special needs children in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, through a collaborative project with The Little Yellow School House. The Little Yellow School House began its operations in 1996, has since developed a school and secured teachers to provide these children and their families knowledge and skills that enable the children to achieve their greatest potential.

 

Children’s Academy of Global Heart

The Mark Victor Hansen Foundation supports the Children’s Academy of Global Heart in Kikoiiro, Uganda. This school plans to educate nearly 2500 children over a five-year period, supporting the 6000 residents within the village of Kikoiiro, in addition to the 30,000 members of the surrounding communities. This project includes the construction of a seven-room schoolhouse, including desks, books and supplies. A clean water source will be created, as well as housing for the teachers and salaries for their first year. This is a collaborative project with JustLikeMyChild Foundation who will over-see construction, program management, and outcome assessment.

Grameen Shikkha, Educational Scholarship Program

In Bangladesh, India, public education requires families to pay fees for books, tuition, school uniforms and other expenses. Many children in Bangladesh are forced to discontinue their studies due to the extreme financial hardship on their families. The Mark Victor Hansen Foundation supports The Grameen Foundation Educational Scholarship Program with on-going financial support to cover the cost of education for rural financially disadvantaged girls and boys whose parents are microfinance borrowers. This educational support gives children opportunities to advance towards an enhanced life and the chance to end the cycle of poverty.

Island Time Fishing Tournament-Isla Mujeres-Mexico-February 24-27, 2010