ConTextos Annual Report 2011-‐12
become hubs for regional learning, where teachers congregate to learn more about best-‐practice and share student work. With the US Embassy and the Santa Tecla Municipality, we have established the first public children’s library in El Salvador, providing rich programming to support literacy development for kids, parents and teachers. And next month, we will begin implementation of a literacy program using iPads for at-‐ risk youth.
Dear Friends,
2012 marks the end of UNESCO’s Literacy Decade, an effort to move beyond just access to schooling, in order to achieve quality education for the world’s most disenfranchised children. But even after 10 years, so much work remains to be done. Communities where ConTextos works embody the contradictions of the 21st century: widespread access to cell-‐phones and data plans, with firewood stoves and no running water. Kids access unlimited information in rural poverty, but attend In ConTextos’ second year, we’ve learned as much about program implementation as building schools that teach only through rote memorization, organizational strength. This year, we expanded the repeated copy and dictation. breadth of our work and partnerships and learned more about the depth of possibility. We have built a foundation that will let us continue to grow in quality of “Literacy is a fundamental human right programming and in quantity of children reached. and the foundation for lifelong learning.
It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives.”
-‐UNESCO
ConTextos changes this paradigm. By creating access to authentic literacy instruction, kids receive an education that encourages them to think deeply, make connections, develop curiosity about the world and communicate their ideas verbally and in writing. This year, we have seen considerable improvements in student outcomes and teacher practice. Our schools
On behalf of the entire ConTextos’ community—board, staff, schools, volunteers and more—thank you for your support. With your generosity, we have been able to create sustainable change in the quality of learning. We look forward to achieving even more in the coming years.
Debra Gittler Founder and Executive Director