Students across El Paso competing to get their artwork published in a children’s book

The high school students are from nine local school districts: El Paso ISD, Ysleta ISD, Socorro ISD, Gasden, Anthony, Fabens, Canutillo, San Elizario and Tornillo. It’s part of the “Go Sí El Paso” project.

According to Time Magazine, in 2014 El Paso had the fourth worst literacy rate in the U.S. To address the issue, organizers created the project to promote El Paso as well as literacy in the area. “Go Sí El Paso” will be a children’s book featuring 25 popular areas throughout El Paso. The high school students created drawings and paintings of the landmarks, to be featured in the book.

The book will be written in both English and Spanish, and 1,500 copies will be donated to first-graders at local elementary schools, municipal libraries and students in Juarez, Mexico.

“We like to do fun things and we just thought what a neat thing to do to feature El Paso in a children’s book.” said Ryan Jackson, CEO of Acceleron Learning. “The project can go beyond El Paso’s borders and reach people all over the United States. It’s a goodwill initiative for the community.”

Students will also have the chance to compete for scholarships, and art teachers can win grant money for their classrooms.

The book will be published when the project is completed, which is scheduled to be in April of next year.