Our History
How it all started . . .
GLXi was founded in 2013 with a vision for global change. From meeting and working with people in underdeveloped countries, GLXi’s founders witnessed firsthand impoverished living conditions, desperation, and lack of hope.
In rural Guatemala, GLXi met people rich in heritage, culture, and the desire to better their lives but were bereft of opportunities. Small children were not attending school since they needed supplies, books, or materials. Teachers were often absent. Most kids dropped out by fifth grade. The stark realization was that if this cycle continued, each successive generation would be left to struggle in abject poverty.
GLXi's due diligence highlighted the tremendous issues with the education system in the developing world, particularly in Central America and Guatemala.
After a year-long market research study involving meetings, talks, and visits with the Minister of Education for Guatemala, schools, students, teachers, other NGOs, and educational, technological, and literacy specialists, GLXi launched its first literacy program, Open Books, Open Minds (OBOM) in 2014 in Guatemala.
OBOM, a comprehensive pre-school and early grade (1-3) literacy curriculum and program, was developed by a renowned educator who transformed school districts in the U.S. and abroad and who understands how children learn. The program's title refers to the power of literacy in changing lives. The curriculum serves the lowest-income children, often those living in extreme poverty, in Guatemala. To support the OBOM program, GLXi distributes high-quality laptops and projectors, digital and physical books, and classroom supplies for the school year and delivers comprehensive teacher training on curriculum administration.
We started as an afternoon literacy program in one school with 14 children because an afternoon program had the best chance of success at that time. Since then, our literacy program has been incorporated within the ½ day school day curriculum, and we have extended our reach to 11 regions, impacting over 15,000 children.
GLXi emerged from the beliefs that:
opportunity is the key to success and that path starts with education, and
an educated citizenry can better create healthy, productive communities and, in general, for the world.
