Annual Report 2006 Promoting new generations

Annual Report 2006
Promoting new generations of readers
Contents
Authorities
5
Letter from Patricia Mejalelaty, Chief Executive of Fundación Leer
7
Letter from Julio Saguier, member of the Advisory Board of Fundación Leer
9
Educational Context
11
Our Mission
12
Who we are
12
How we work
12
Results and Impact during 1997 and 2006
13
Scope of the Work Implemented by Fundación Leer in 2006
14
Fundación Leer: figures for 2006
15
Our programs
16
Program outlines of Fundación Leer
18
Our Lines of Action and some Cases to Share
19
Volunteers of Fundación Leer
32
Annual National Reading Marathon Campaign
36
New Programs
39
Other Educational Programs in Partnership
40
Institutional News
42
Acknowledgements
43
Sponsor Companies, Foundations, and Partners in 2006
44
Contribution of Private Donors and Publishers in 2006
45
Specific Donors in 2006
46
Perspectives
47
Resources and their Application
Authorities
President:
Félix de Barrio
Vicepresident:
Eduardo García Mansilla
Treasurer:
Elías Mejalelaty
Secretary:
Jorge N. Labanca
Senior Members:
Horacio Diez
Carlos Etcheverrigaray
María Freixas de Braun
Ignacio A. González García
Santiago Murtagh
Aldo Sessa
Pedro Simoncini
Mario Vázquez
Substitute Members : Jorge Galperín
Matilde Mejalelaty
Chief Executive:
Patricia Mejalelaty
Auditor:
Price Waterhouse Coopers
Advisory Board:
Dr. Pedro Luis Barcia
Prof. Berta Braslavsky
Ing. Guillermo Battro
Dr. Guillermo Jaim Echeverry
Dr. Carlos Floria
Lic. Víctor García Laredo
Prof. Alfredo van Gelderen
Dr. Mariano Grondona
Dr. Carlos Kaplan
Sr. José Martini
Dr. Manuel Mora y Araujo
Dr. Alejandro Orfila
Sr. Carlos Padula
Sr. Carlos Pla
Sr. Steven Rockefeller
Dr. Julio Saguier
Dra. Carol Sakoian
Prof. Antonio Salonia
Dr. Juan Carlos Tedesco
5
Dear Friends of Fundación Leer,
We are close to celebrating ten years of work in Argentina, and in this Annual Report we
would like to share with you the path covered by our Foundation during the current year.
Ours has been an intense trip, and the following pages will show this clearly. At every location, every place
in our country where our specialists have stopped to share a moment of reflection with teachers,
community leaders, caring mothers, doctors, or authorities, we have had the chance to see a country that
longs to offer children alternatives for a different and better tomorrow.
We have seen parents sharing stories with their chidren by the fire or in the waiting room of a small health
center. We have seen young people who were willing to learn come to our training sessions to learn how to
contribute to the task the Foundation was carrying out in the community.
This has once more been a year of great growth. The new programs we have included, such as Gallery of
Authors or Reading on Net,
Net have enabled us to offer new tools so that teachers can draw children closer to
reading. Getting Ready for School has enabled us to show that a community can get organized to
compensate for the lack of early educational services for its children.
As we moved on to villages, different town halls began to ask us for the collaboration of Fundación Leer to
strengthen literacy in their communities. Thus, in Misiones, Fundación passed from Montecarlo to Eldorado
and from there on to Puerto Mado and Nueva Delicia. This pattern will continue to expand next year.
Once again, the National Reading Marathon was a magical moment which brought together 1,800,000
children and adults from all over the country. We are especially thankful for all the people who joined us in
this campaign.
We are deeply grateful to all those who have had faith in our Foundation: to school directors who opened
their doors to us, to teachers who day after day welcome us and work with enthusiasm so that children can
have access to the world of the written word, to doctors who agreed to promote reading in the world of
health, to the concerned community. Essentially, we are thankful to all those who have joined us in our
cause.
Once more, we wish to thank our sponsors, the publishing houses and people who support us and our
volunteers, whose unwaivering energy helps us expand our work day after day country wide. We also wish
to thank Reading Is Fundamental, Inc., The Open Society Institute and the International Step by Step
Association for their faith in our Foundation and the support they have given us.
Finally, I offer my deepest acknowledgement to the wonderful staff at Fundación Leer who fully offer their
professionalism, their best efforts, and their soul so that in every location every family in this great nation
may receive the magic of Fundación Leer.
Deepest thanks to you all.
Patricia Mejalelaty
Executive Director
7
Buenos Aires, March 29, 2007
Dear Staff of
FUNDACIÓ
FUNDACIÓN LEER
To.:
To Félix de Barrio and Patricia Mejalelaty
Viamonte 1465 9° Of. 92
1055 Buenos Aires
Dear friends:
I feel honored to be invited to participate in the Annual 2006 Report. Once more, I thank you for the
commitment and enthusiasm with which you carry out a task that is so important for the future of our
beloved Argentina.
“Fundaci
Fundació
Fundación Leer”.
Leer Two words that trigger one concept : Reading is fundamental for the formation of people. If
the desire to read can be developed, this will contribute to establishing bonds among classmates, teachers and
relatives and to promote the participation of communities from all corners of our country. The impact and
results achieved over these past 10 years of hard work have turned Fundación Leer into an invaluable
milestone in the educational process. As Bernardo Toro says: :“Through education we do not make big
changes, but no big change can be made without education”.
Going beyond this deep reflection about the pedagogical contribution to reading, I presume that those who
are reading these pages will enjoy every one of the valuable testimonies that describe our year’s task. Even if
the programs Fundación Leer carries out are reflected in many numbers, these figures mainly show us how it
has been possible to make children smile, children who rarely have reasons to be happy. Fundación Leer has
opened up windows to the imagination, cleared paths that have not been traveled, brightened eyes to
reading, and helping children discover treasures that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.
I shall never forget how deeply touched I was when Patricia told me about that first book that entered a home,
a home where the only reading material was a label on a canned goods can which these people kept and
treasured.
Through these 10 years of Annual Reports, those of us who are fortunate enough to know how to read have
learned that there is much to be done and we have to make sure that no child in our country is deprived of
this gift.
Each Annual Report brings us closer to the objectives Fundación Leer works for so zealously, highlighting both
small and big successes along the way towards an Argentine Republic with opportunities for everyone.
Sincerely,
Julio C. Saguier
9
Educational Context
In 2006, there was a debate about education in
Argentina and consequently, two laws were passed.
One of these, the Law of Educational Financing,
mandates that both provinces and nation commit
themselves to increase investments in education
giving priority to the provinces. On the other hand,
the National Law of Education , which, in general
terms re-establishes the Primary and Secondary
educational system, and plans to allot 6% of the
GDP to be used to finance this area as of 2010.
Even though these reforms focus on education as
one of the key objectives on our country’s agenda,
only concrete actions truly produce sustained,
planned and efficient reforms. So far, the data is
still very discouraging :
17.5% of the national population is
functionally illiterate,
illiterate and 2.8% is totally
illiterate.
illiterate
Only 2% of the students understand complex
texts , can deduct what information is relevant
to a task, can make critical evaluations and
establish hypotheses.*2
Almost 50% has difficulty advancing in his or
her studies as a result of illiteracy.
“The great challenge for humanity
continues to be education. Poverty,
marginality, and corruption are the
result of lack of education. A person
who cannot read cannot receive
education. This is why we so warmly
encourage promotion of reading, which
is by no means just a drop in the
ocean.”
Félix de Barrio – President
To give a honest and concrete response to the
existing problem, Fundación Leer enthusiastically
continues persuing its objective: to provide
teachers and local leaders with tools to promote
literacy and to raise the reading standard skills in
Argentine children and youngsters, since the
training of those who will promote the habit of
reading is critical to achieve a positive social
transformation.
Reading and more advanced levels of literacy
should be crucial in all educational processes.
Access to books, reading habits, critical thought,
reasoning, and analytical thought are all aspects
which are interrelated and vital in the formation of
children and youngsters.
Today, more than ever, access to qualified
education must be a fact, rather than a mere
announcement. At Fundación Leer we all work
hard so that this may be possible. It is for this
reason that with this Annual Report we wish to
show how we work to reach our objectives.
*1 Presidencia de Nación. Consejo Nacional de Coordinación
de Políticas Sociales. Sistema de Información, Monitoreo, y
Evaluación de Programas Sociales (SEMPRO). “Poverty in la
Argentina”, 2002.
*2 OCDE-UNESCO (2003). “Basic Aptitudes for the World of
Tommorrow. Results of Project PISA 2000”.
11
Our dream
A literate Argentina where children have access to
books and have discovered the pleasure and value
of reading.
Our Mission
To give an incentive to reading and to promote
literacy amongst children and youngsters in our
country, generating a lasting and positive impact
on their personal development to facilitate their
full insertion into society.
Who we are
Fundación Leer was created in March 1997 with the
objective of contributing from the private sector
towards the development of a “reading habit”,
fundamental in the educational process and an
essential factor for healthy social development.
To achieve its goal, Fundación Leer signed a
contract to become a licensee of Reading Is
Fundamental, Inc. (RIF) in the United States. This
way, it was possible for Fundación Leer to operate
RIF’s programs in our country. Argentina is the
second country worldwide, and the first in the
Spanish speaking world to obtain RIF’s license.
Additionally, in 2004, a cooperation agreement
was signed with the Open Society Institute, so the
International Step by Step Association may also
operate its projects in Argentina.
Moreover, Fundación Leer also implements
internally-developed programs and others designed
together with other institutions.
12
Fundación Leer operates on a national level, always
keeping local characteristics in mind. Its work aims
to strengthen existing community institutions and
networks, and to give them the tools to design and
develop literacy-promoting projects directed
towards chidren.
Fundación Leer provides training in innovating
strategies, teacher orientation, technical assistance,
and new books and materials to create an effective
literacy-promoting environment.
Fundación Leer’s Programs are implemented in
urban and rural schools (both public and private), in
libraries, hospitals, community centers, community
diners, centers for disabled children, detention
centers and recreational establishments.
How We Work
The Key Points of our Task are :
To train adults who work with children to
provide guidance towards the discovery of the
reading, strengthen their reading skills and
finally, emphasize how important all of this is
for
their individual and community
development.
To supply new books,
books chosen by each
participating establishment, to set up Reading
Corners and/or to give the children books they
can take home and keep for good.
To offer teacher counselling:
technical
assistance, follow-up and program assessment.
To
promote
interest
in
community
establishments so they may sustain projects
and become their own.
Results and Impact: 19971997-2006
568.789
3,463,319
1,184,988
6,790
3,699
children
participated in
our educational
programs.
children
participated in
the National
Reading
Marathons.
new books for
children were
distributed
among children
of low income.
teachers and
community
leaders
were trained.
schools
and
centers
implemented the
programs.
467
areas nationwide
participated
in our new
projects.
Since its creation, and thanks to the support of
innumerable companies, foundations, organizations
and individuals, Fundación Leer has spread its
programs to 23 provinces and to the City of
Buenos Aires.
Teacher and Community Leaders: incorporate
Thanks to their participation in Fundación Leer’s
programs:
Parents: become more active in their children’s
Children: read and comprehend more, improve
their oral and written expression, dare to speak in
public, discover reading is a fun activity, improve
scholastic performance and gain awareness of how
important education is for their social
development.
“It is gratifying to see children hug their
books as they would a friend, and dive
into the world of reading hand in hand
with the different programs of
Fundación Leer"
new tools to promote reading, discover new forms
of approaching both the educational community
and the community at large and feel appreciated
and enriched on a professional level.
school activities, become positive reader models,
develop awareness of how important reading is to
children’s future and begin to enjoy reading as a
family activity.
Companies and their Volunteers: contribute
with their human resources department to the
work of Fundación Leer, and participate actively in
the activities proposed by the establishments.
Corporate volunteers become active reader models.
Guillermo Bonahora, Institutional Relations Manager
Banco Río
13
Scope of the Task during 2006
14
188,951
171,896 new
38,690 volunteers
941 teachers and
children
participated in
Fundación Leer’s
Programs this year
books were chosen
nationwide by
children and
establishments in
poor and/or at-risk
communities. In
many cases, this
was the first book in
their home.
nationwide contributed to the
implementation of the
programs, cooperating
in all different aspects
(organization, reading with
chidren, fundraising,
development of teaching
material) and supporting tasks
at the Foundation’s offices
such as the translation of
material, illustration of stories,
telephone calls, administration
of students’ evaluations, etc.
Volunteers donated 234,133
hours to the organization
community leaders
received training to
improve their methods
by incorporating
innovative strategies,
which resulted in an
increase of children’s
skills.
572 institutions
223 areas all over
116 companies,
134
(schools, community
diners, hospitals,
children’s homes, and
health centers) were
selected in
cooperation with the
financial sponsors and
benefited from the
several different
programs available.
the nation and in the
City of Buenos Aires,
carried out different
activities aimed at
promoting reading.
foundations and individuals
supported our projects and
activities. The varied portfolio
includes local and foreign
organizations, many of which
have supported us
consistently year after year,
and some of which contacted
us this year for the first time.
small scale
corporations- “pymes”and friends of the
Foundation
contributed with
general donations:
publicity, free
promotion of our
activities, prints and
photocopies, lodging,
transportation,
catering and rooms for
training purposes,
administrative services,
advisory, post
expenses, designs, etc.
Fundació
Fundación Leer in Numbers in 2006
Distribution of Programs
per Type
Books Distributed per Type
of Program
16.50% 10.08%
15.24% 8.83%
5.04%
10.94%
68.39%
64.99%
Literacy Programs in Community
Institutions
Early and Family Literacy
Programs
Literacy Programs at School
Institutional Programs
Population that Benefited from the
Age Programs
Books Distributed
According to Type of
Institution.
1.48%
4.45%
2.10%
0.49%
6.43%
9.63%
88.27%
0-5 years
6-14 years
15+ years
87.14%
Popular Library
Community Center
Children’s Home
Hospital / Health Center
Educational Institutions.
15
Our Programs
Literacy Programs at School
Early and Family Literacy Instruction.
Reading
Shared Beginnings (*) strengthens adolescent
mothers’ skills. Young mothers are given
strategies and resources to be able to aid in
their
babies’
language
and
writing
development from birth until the age of 5.
Getting Ready For School
(**)
is a program
addressed to parents of children between 2
and
5 years old who do no attend
Kindergartens. This program helps them
advance to formal education with the required
skills and the motivation to learn.
Family of Readers
(*)
is designed for parents
with children in kindergarten Level and
primary school. It provides the tools they will
need to create literacy atmospheres in their
homes and to promote reading in the family
area.
Is
Fundamental
Argentina(*):
contributes to the development of the primary
bond between children and books thanks to a
series of activities for which teachers were
trained. Children choose their first books within
the frame of the Book Events.
Open Book Project
(*):
strengthens the
school’s literacy task by creating Reading
Corners with new books chosen according to
the children’s different ages. The Corner is set
up by the community and is used daily both by
children and relatives.
Reading
Marathons:
offers Schools a
systematic way to work in the formation of
autonomous readers.
Prepared for Life: strengthens the skills
children will need to assimilate into society. The
crux of this work is self-esteem, critical thinking,
decision
making
and
interpersonal
communication, just to name a few.
The Writing: Experience helps adolescents
initiate the process of creative writing.
Step by Step (**): is a program oriented to the
improvement of school performance through
teaching strategies which include the family in
the educational process of children and the
promotion of democratic values at school.
*These programs are carried out with the License of Reading Is
Fundamental, Inc.
**These programs are carried out in cooperation with the
Open Society Institute and the Step by Step Association.
“The first 5 years of life are crucial in the development
of a child. It is imperative to accompany children at
home and at the formal and informal educational
institutions”.
Marcela Sisto Pedagogical Coordinator in Fundación
Leer.
16
All the programs of Fundación Leer
include training,
permanent technical assistance and monitoring.
Literacy Programs in Communitary
Institutions.
Corporative Volunteers Programs
(*):
The Importance of Reading
Workshops for Community Agents: trains
aims at
strengthening the skills of personnel in charge
of young chilldren’s care or community
centers, which accepts children up to 5 .
agents in community centers to stimulate
children’s desire to read and to transmit how
important reading is to everyone personal and
social development.
Projects for Strengthening Community
Literacy: cooperates in the development of
community centers so they become children’s
libraries and support centers for families able
to promote literacy in children and adults.
Reading
It offers companies the opportunity to
organize volunteer activities related to the
reading promotion programs. Fundación Leer
trains volunteers, appoints institutions,
coordinates actions, and monitors the results
of the projects.
Annual National Reading Marathon:
This is an educational event of large exposure
both locally and nationally. It encourages
children and adults to enjoy books and to
learn how to read for pleasure. Apart from
schools, community diners, hospitals, libraries,
clubs, and so on, are also invited. The
Marathon is not a competition and admission
is free.
Corners in Communitary Diners:
enhances these spaces through a training to
promote reading, and supplies new books for
the creation of Reading Corners.
Reading Corners in Hospitals and Health
Centers: trains pediatricians, nurses and
volunteers so they can communicate to
parents the importance of reading at an early
age.
*These programs are developed under the license of Reading Is
Fundamental, Inc.
Children all over the country come together to read with the
community on the National Reading Marathon day.
**These programs are developed in cooperation with The Open
Society Institute and the International Step by Step Association.
All programs of Fundación Leer include training, permanent technical
assistance and monitoring.
17
Fundació
Fundación Leer’
Leer’s Programming
0-5 years old
0-5 years old
Early
Early and
and Family
Family
Literacy
Literacy Programs
Programs
6-8 years old
6-8 years old
9-11 years old
9-11 years old
1212-14 years old
1212-14 years old
Shared beginnings
Getting Ready
para la
Preparados
for
School
Escuela
Family of Readers
Reading Is Fundamental Argentina and Open Book Project
School and Family Working Together for Literacy
Reading Marathons
Prepared for Life
Literacy
Literacy Programs
Programs
at
at School
School
Gallery of Authors
The Writing Experience
KidSmart - Young
Explorer
Step by Step
Literacy
Literacy Programs
Programs in
in
Community
Community
Institutions
Institutions
Care to Read
Reading Corners in Libraries, Health Centers and Community Centers
Centers
Formation of Communitary Agents as Reading Promoters
Projects to strengthen Communitary Literacy
Institutional
Institutional
Programs
Programs
18
Corporate Volunteer Program
Annual National Reading Marathon
Early and Family Literacy
Research shows that children begin to construct
knowledge about written language from the time
they are born.
In homes where there is reading material, children
have a chance to see how written language is used
for different purposes. In these homes, children
often enjoy listening to stories and through this,
they receive intellectual benefits.
“I like to change song lyrics, and I have a
lot of fun with it. I also like to read the
books I get from the Reading Corners,
and I read them to everybody at home...
I know the name of every book... Now I
can calculate with numbers 1, 2 and 3,
and I know how to count up to 8”
Pablo Agustín Báez, 4 years old. Martín Fierro Neighborhood
Participant in the Family of Readers Program
In Argentina, many children do not have this
chance, and this brings about critical consequences
in the development of their language, their
performance at school and their acquisition of skills
to read and write.
Currently, Fundación Leer implements four early
and family literacy programs. In 2006, the number
of participating institutions doubled the number in
2005, thus widening the possibility to equal
opportunities for all Argentine children.
Children from Misiones choose books to take home with them
and keep.
19
“Day after day, we can see the impact
of the programs on families. More and
more parents come to the Reading
Corners with their children; many of
them for the first time. This program
has made it possible to draw reading
closer to a community where 60% of
the population comes from homes of
very low socioeconomic levels and with
unsatisfied basic needs.”.
Librarian in Las Breñas.
We would like to tell you about some cases in
different institutions in our country where
Fundació
Fundación Leer’
Leer’s programs were implemented
during this year.
Parents experimented the pleasure of reading
together with their children in Las Breñ
Breñas,
as, in
the Chaco Province.
managed to bring together the library, the school
and the community at large, which, in turn, drew
closer and responded positively.
There are four main highlights to mention in the
program: teachers’ and librarians’ training of the
features of the program and its implementation,
the setting up of a Reading Corner at the library,
three workshops for parents with a distribution of
new books and, finally, two Book Events, where
children were given new books to keep.
The concept that reading was to be shared at home
so that parents could read to their young children
was stressed. In spite of the difficulties and
inhibitions due to the lack of or incomplete
instruction they may have, parents managed to
overcome the initial obstacles and fears, and were
able to share experiences in their children’s
education.
This program benefited many people: teachers,
librarians, 250 parents with children under 5, plus
182 children also under 5.
This year, thanks to the support of the Swiss
Embassy in Argentina, the program “Strengthening
Early Literacy for At-Risk Communities” was carried
out in the Province of Chaco. This project
developed thanks to the articulated work of
Popular School Library "Constancio C. Vigil“ and
two educational institutions: School N. 751 “Fray
M. Esquiú” and Kindergarden Nº 97 located in Las
Breñas.
Bearing in mind the characteristics of each
institution and the population that benefits from
the programs, Fundación Leer’s proposal was to
improve the levels of early literacy of children with
the objective of reducing the possibilities of school
failure.
Library science students, librarians, teachers and
parents worked in a coordinated way, and
20
“In these workshops I learned to value the importance of
reading a story to my children”.
Testimony of a father participating in the program.
“My 5 year old daughter found all the
activities interesting. They are part of
our daily routine: we play cards, we sing
in the kitchen when she is helping me
with the cooking, or baking a pie. We
learned a lot from the visits to the
workshops of the Reading Corners.”
A Mother from the 9 de Julio neighborhood who participated
in the workshops.
Parents from Misiones participate in the
process of literacy of the youngest children in
their homes.
Getting Ready for School is a program coordinated
by Fundación Leer and developed by the Step by
Step International Association. It is designed for
parents of children between 2 and 5 years old who
have no access to kindergartens.
Children participating in the program Getting Ready for School
play together.
During 2006, the first year in which the program
was implemented in Argentina, 8 community
centers were set up in Montecarlo, a province of
Misiones, thanks to the support of the company
EMPower - The Emerging Markets Foundation.
Another one was built in a community center in
the city of Eldorado in the same province, thanks to
the sponsorship of the Embassy of Finland.
Many of the parents who attend the programs are
illiterate. For this reason, the program helps them
share in the program´s benefits, because their own
skills to read and write improve, their self esteems
increase, and their relationship with others also
improves. 605 parents participated in the
workshops.
Mothers in one of the training workshops “ Ready for School”
This program aids facilitators, who guide families
and teach concrete strategies in developing a
learning atmosphere in their homes. In
communities where there is no access to
kindergarten; stimulating learning atmospheres are
created in community centers and children attend
every day.
Volunteers help children develop the skills needed to enter
school.
21
“In the workshops I learned that we can
teach while doing the every day chores.
I discovered that while sharing stories
with Liz, she gets interested in the
letters. In the kitchen at home there are
now posters with letters and numbers
everywhere. I wish to thank you all
because with the workshops you have
opened up a new way to help my
children better .”
They also made reading a habitual activity and
participated in activities of pleasure reading
proposed by the institution.
The teachers and coordinators consulted stated
that they found the program very effective
because it had enabled them to acquire new tools
and strategies to promote family participation.
The educational leaders agreed, and said that the
program had enabled them to experience new work
situations shared by school and families that
strengthened relations and generated new bonds.
A mother who participated in the Family of Readers workshop.
A sustained commitment from adults
facilitates reading at home in the province of
Buenos Aires
During 2006, thanks to the support of General
Electric International Inc., the program Family of
Readers was developed in School N. 40 “Belisario
Roldán” in the province of Buenos Aires. Thanks to
the support of the company and its volunteers, this
school has been working for the last 5 years using
different programs of Fundación Leer with a strong
commitment from teachers.
Ten volunteers from the company collaborated and
were trained by Fundación Leer. They learned
about the basic points and general orientation of
the program, talked about their task, reflected on
the importance reading has, received guidelines
and were taught strategies to read most
effectively.
Parents of children attending First Grade
participated in
3 workshops coordinated by
teachers. In them, they enriched their knowledge of
literacy at home.
This year, for the first time, the School worked
with the program Family of Readers. Three
workshops of family literacy were implemented for
the parents and people in charge of the children in
the first level of Basic General Education. Two Book
Events were also implemented, and teachers
received assistance and permanent technical
support from specialists in Fundación Leer.
The results of this program coincide with the effort
and dedication from the members of the school in
charge of the event. The evaluation at the end of
the program yielded some significant results.
Children and families who participated in the
program had strengthened their bond with reading.
22
245 children from Belisario Roldán School chose books to take
home in ownership.
Literacy Programs at School
Fundación Leer develops its programs at schools all
over the country, training people and offering
technical assistance to coordination teams,
teachers and librarians.
Through these programs at schools, Fundación
helps the school community in the development of
strategies oriented to raising children’s interest in
reading, and incorporating proposals for the
practice and improvement of their reading skills.
“It is very important that children have
access to material of such good quality,
because there are no books in their
homes. Kids are delighted! In addition,
we count on the support of the
volunteers, who are always at hand and
available
to
collaborate
when
necessary”.
Director of School N. 913 "Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra“.
Reading Is Fundamental Argentina and The
Science in the province of Santa Fe
The support received from Dow Química Argentina
S.A. and PBB Polisur accounts for the
implementation of the program Reading is
Fundamental Argentina and The Science in four
educational institutions in the province of Santa
Fe. This program contributes to the development of
the bond between children and books that is
stimulated by activities teachers had been trained
to do.
The program concentrates on the reading more
science-related texts. Apart from the manuals that
are generally handed out, children receive another
dealing with “reading and science” in which
different activities are suggested so children can
put theory into practice.
In this project, three Book Events were organized
for each institution. In these events, 1,240 new
children’s books were distributed. In addition,,
specialists from Fundación Leer offered coaching
and permanent technical support to the
coordinating teams in each of the institutions.
Belén, a volunteer from Dow Química Argentina S.A., in the
fBook Event
“Belén - a volunteer form Dow Chemical
worked very well. Mothers were surprised to
see people from companies devoting so much
time to their children. "
Vicedirector of Evengeli School
23
“We are amazed by the program
because even the youngest children who
can barely talk want to be given a book.
The system of “lending” works very
well, and there are children who have
already read about twenty books.”
Teachers from school N° 10 , Río Gallegos, Province of Santa
Cruz.
In the south of our country, the community set
up 32 Reading Corners they now enjoy daily
610 institutions all over the country, or more than
80% of the chilldren who took part in Fundación
Leer’s programs, enriched their reading levels with
the Literacy Porgram at School. Project Open Book
is one of the programs from this branch which was
implemented this year thanks to the support of S.A.
Importadora y Exportadora de la Patagonia in 32
schools in the districts of Viedma, Río Gallegos and
Ushuaia.
With this program, each one of the institutions
selected 300 new books of infantile and juvenile
literature. In addition, 3.037 children had the
chance of choosing a new book to keep and enjoy
with their families.
This program’s main characteristic was the
emphasis with which the community set up the
Reading Corner.
Teachers and librarians defined this year of work
with Fundación Leer as a success, since they
managed to draw a number of children closer to
books and to the pleasure of reading. Additionally,
they mobilized the whole community around
reading and teachers from different schools
developed a fluent relationship and shared
strategies, ideas and different activities.
Children’s relatives, writers, educators, police and
firemen story tellers enjoyed the experience of
reading to others and being listened to.
“We are very happy and we are working very
actively to make children feel books are their
restless companions. The Marathon was a total
success and we shared it with the sanitary
center. Everybody read: students of all levels ,
teachers, secretary assistants, teachers, sick
people, janitors, and even a chauffeur.”
Teachers from school N° 6 “Provincia in Entre Ríos”, Ushuaia,
Pcia. in Tierro del Fuego.
Children form Río Gallegos enjoy the Reading Corner set up by
the community.
24
“What I liked most was the fact that we
read many stories. I chose two books that
are now mine. We also visited sick young
children who were in the Hospital and
read to them”.
Student of 6th Year in Escuela "Patricias Mendocinas" in
Corrientes who has participated for two years in the Reading
Marathons.
Development of a reading identity in children of
59 schools in different provinces of our country
The main objective of the Reading Marathon Program,
which was implemented thanks to Banco Río de la
Plata S.A.’s commitment , is to develop a reading
identity in children and to help them acquire the joy
of reading.
In 2005, these schools built up Reading Corners and
celebrated three Reading Marathons. In 2006, the
objective was to continue with this support and to
keep
strengthening children’s reading skills. To
accomplish this, three Marathons were again
organized. Thus, 6.109 children had the chance to
choose two books they could bring home and enjoy.
Additionally, each one of the educational institutions
received 56 new books of infantile and juvenile
literature to enrich the Reading Corners. In total, the
program handed out a total of 16.133 new books.
72% of the participants in the Reading Marathons increased
their skill to read stories orally.
Thanks to the program, in these two years schools
were able to reinvent their relationship with the
community. Many of them managed to incorporate
families into concrete activities in which parents
and children drew closer to reading, and then took
this spirit home. 82% of the interviewed parents
began to share time reading with their children:
both reading to them and listening to them.
In the Reading Marathons at schools, a new way of
relating to the community was established: people
visited hospitals, homes, kindergartens, and other
institutions where children shared readings.
According to a specialist in programs of Fundación
Leer, María Alejandra Fernández: “It is very positive
thing to benefit these homes of low incomes and little
resources with new good books, chosen by the
children according to their likes and interests, for this
creates a consciousness in the family about the
importance and pleasure of reading” .
Poster made by teachers of School N° 5 “Manuel Belgrano”,
Entre Ríos, to promote reading in the community.
25
“This project led us to reflect critically
on some of the chidren’s role models.
They coud analyze the negative and the
positive side of their heroes on T.V., for
instance.
Teacher of 4th.year at school N°38 in Río Gallegos.
In Río Gallegos, children worked on selfselfesteem, critical thinking , decision making and
interpersonal communication
For two years running, and thanks to the
partnership
established
between
Chevron
Argentina and Fundación Leer, the program
Prepared for Life was implemented in ten
educational institutions in Río Gallegos, province of
Santa Cruz.
Besides the Prepared for Life program, the Reading
Corners grew with the distribution of 2.290 books
in all the schools benefited by the program, thus
giving 1.683 children the chance of choosing a new
book of infantile or juvenile literature they could
keep for good. This was carried out in the frame of
a “show”, an event in which children share their
productions and personal reflections with their
families.
Both the leading team and the teachers considered
that the program was carried out very successfully,
They managed to change the children’s image of
themselves favorably, to improve their verbal
expression, and to transmit their ideas and feelings.
Children learned how to work in teams, and also
realized that education is an important asset to
their future. They were also able to create a
pleasant and stimulating atmosphere in the
classroom.
This program is centered on developing social skills
and certain values necessary for children between 9
and 12 years old, so they can act with responsibility
in different situations they have to face in the
world today. It is carried out with books designed
by specialists in Fundación Leer, and is addressed
to each of the children.
The devotion teachers showed in the classrooms
allowed for a deeper treatment of the key points
worked during 2005, and addressed others such as
respect to oneself and to others, solidarity, the
value of education, interpersonal communication,
taking care of one selves and of the environment,
and other essential morals and values.
Children participating in the Program Ready for Life read in the
Reading Corner of their Institution.
“It is very important that children identify their potential
to progress in life. That is why with this project we try to
make them detect their good qualities and talents and
learn to value themselves. Oftentimes this is the only
place these children have to reflect on their skills since
they come from environments where they are very
devalued and they feel things cannot be changed.”
Flavia Cerutti, Program Specialist
in Fundación Leer.
26
”I used to hide behind my house to read
because my Mother didn’t want me to
read until I had helped her with the
household chores”.
Maribel, 7 years old,. participant of the Step to Step program.
A program that helps people in Misiones to
teach and to learn.
learn.
Fundación Leer has advanced hand in hand with the
growth process in each of these institutions and it can
be said that during 2006 a great impact both on
teaching and on learning was made.
“This year was unheard of. It is the first time
students did not repeat the grade. We owe this to
the Step by Step Program
of Fundación Leer.”
Teacher of 7th. Year in school Nr.º 254.
During 2006, we carried out the project Step by
Step for the third time. The program, created by
the Open Society Institute and the Step by Step
Association, aims at promoting in schools the
development of democratic values, social inclusion,
family participation, the achievement of academic
learning and the development of critical thinking.
In Argentina, Fundación Leer has implemented this
program under an agreement with International
Operation and the financial support of UBS
Optimus Foundation and Sparkling - Cullighan.
For the last three years, Montecarlo, in the province
of Misiones, carries out the program permanently.
More teachers and children were gradually
incorporated. In 2006, teachers from 5th. to 7th.
year were included. This program has trained
children and succeeded in making children and
teachers participate from Initial Level to 7th. year
of EGB1.
In 2006, the focus was on learning how to read and
write. To accomplish this goal, a reading plan was
organized in Schools Nr. 607, 708 y 254 in
Montecarlo consisting of the acquisition of 2.560
new books. From there on, a reading circuit was
organized inside the schools and among them. This
way, the number of books read during the year
increased, since the objective proposed consisted
of guaranteeing the reading of 10 to 12 books per
child from 5 to 13 years old.
A classroom in School 607, Montecarlo Misiones, in the Step
by Step program.
Students at school 708 enjoying their reading.
27
night, and I
t
a
r
e
th
o
m
y
“I read to m
she can read
so
l
o
o
h
sc
m
o
a
bring books fr
other works in
M
.
y
a
d
n
u
S
n
ng
them o
d I h a v e 6 y ou
n
a
,
y
d
d
a
D
h
it
factory w
d my 5 year old
n
a
m
e
th
h
c
a
te
brothers. I
laughs when I
e
H
.
te
ri
w
to
cousin how
him.”
read Pinochio to
tecarlo.
Nancy, a studen
t in Escuela N°2
a Step by Step
Nancy’s case in
54 de Mon
School
unity, where
our comm
rlo, Misiones. “In
ca
rents
te
on
M
in
ol
and teach their pa
254 Scho
es
o.
m
N
ho
r
at
ei
e
th
ad
gr
to
d
y
ac
.
in 3r
n often take liter
ctor of the school
Nancy is 8 and is
a, Assistant Dire
e illiterate, childre
sm
ar
s
de
nt
Le
re
ia
pa
ic
e
Al
th
ts
50% of
commen
case with Nancy,”
Program,
to read, as is the
in the Open Book
d
an
m
ra
og
pr
Step
ternational
ere trained by in
tes in the Step by
w
pa
rs
ci
rti
he
pa
ac
Te
to
k.
es
cy go
er of ris
books were
The school Nan
children in dang
this, 2,560 new
r
fo
ish
pl
ity
m
al
co
qu
ac
l
na
To
atio
of the 5th
writing.
of very high educ
, including three
for reading and
ed
es
ov
gi
pr
te
im
ra
st
as
w
in
s
s
rt
the look of room
and national expe
was set up, and
an
pl
g
in
ad
re
a
,
bought
t want her to
srooms.
er mother does no read. After
to 7th grade clas
ys her teacher. “H
to
cataracts,” sa
ancy wants
. She
lem in her eyes:
. Nevertheless, N
ys reading a book
jo
“Nancy has a prob school so she won’t lose them
en
d
an
er
rn
for
Co
to
ns in the Reading
ks her classmates
io
as
bring her glasses
sh
e
cu
sh
e
d,
th
or
w
on
a
s
k, she lie
not understand
finishing her wor
d when she does
an
,
nd
ta
rs
de
un
tries hard to
programs of
thanks to the
sly
help.”
ou
m
or
en
s
ill
write. Now,
her sk
dn’t know how to
is girl improved
di
th
d
r,
an
he
cy
ac
en
te
flu
r
ading stories
cked
According to he
e reading, she la
s a passion for re
bl
ha
ou
e
tr
sh
d
e,
ha
or
m
he
“S
t’s
3 books she
wha
Fundación Leer.
ms, Nancy owns
t of reading, and
ra
en
og
pr
om
e
m
th
e
at
to
ks
tim
she enjoys the in
t she read.” Than
write about wha
to
d
an
s,
er
pe
r
to he
treasures.”
ve improved a
d the children ha
an
d,
ge
an
ch
s
ha
inhibited.
hool
e daring, and less peated
cle says, “The sc
or
cy
m
,
st
ed
fir
st
e
re
th
te
in
of
r
Ruth, a teache
. They are more
“Less students re
of Fundación Leer and exchange and share books.”
t
or
ents who
pp
su
e
th
ith
lot w
turally
ound 8 to 10 stud ol this
ar
na
ry
ve
ve
ha
s
to
or
th
ed
au
us
t
ped out of scho
joy. “Before, we
They speak abou
, less children drop their task, now sit
us beaming with
es
lls
sid
te
Be
e
e.
sh
cl
cy
,”
ar
st
the ye
in the fir
ey had finished
today only 2 or 3
ssmates once th
cla
r
ei
th
repeated a year,
er
th
bo
who used to
y.
year and students Reading Corner,” she says proudl
tecarlo,
e
th
Nr.º 254 in Mon
of
t
quietly to read in
en
ud
st
a
girl,
privacy.).
espond to a
ve this student’s
rbatim and corr
er
ve
es
pr
e
ar
to
ns
en
io
os
at
ch
(The quot
me we have
is the fictional na
Misiones. Nancy
28
“Children investigate, listen, watch, and
learn very quickly. They receive a large
amount of stimuli in their eager search
to do, see and try. They are not afraid of
the computer. They acquire learning
related to non-linear activities, which
enables them to move from one idea to
another, changing, trying again, thinking
differently,
creating
and
communicating.”
A teacher participating in the KidSmart program.
Teachers are trained to help children explore
new technologies
For the 6th year in a row, Fundación Leer was again
in charge of the coordination, follow up and
evaluation of the project Kid Smart-Little Explorer,
which IBM developed in Argentina and in other
countries in world.
Children, eager to learn, take advantage of the resources a
computer provides.
This time the program benefited 3,875 children
from low-income families who attend 29 initial
level institutions in the City of Buenos Aires and
Greater Buenos Aires.
86 teachers participated in the training given by
specialists of Fundación Leer. Teachers were trained
in each program, taught to integrate them into
annual planning and were later encouraged to
critically evaluate their activities. Teachers
participated actively, sharing both their working
experiences and the context in which they work
every day.
29
Literacy Programs
Institutions
in
Community
Fundación Leer develops programs for children in
different types of institutions that bring children
and youth together, such as community centers,
diners, and community kindergartens.
With proposals adapted to the needs and dynamics
of each of these organizations, Fundación Leer
trains its leaders – neighbors, social workers,
teachers, community workers, among others –
encourages the organization of space and activities
to promote reading and literacy in communities of
high social risk. Participants in each community get
involved in the implementation of the programs,
and create locations which contribute to the local
development.
In contact with books since their early infancy
in the province of Chubut
Puerto Madryn is a city that is constantly growing
and developing. Yet, many children are not taken
care of and have few chances to receive a proper
education.
Thanks to the support of Aluar Aluminio Argentino
(S.A.I.C.), since october 2005, the program Care to
Read has been implemented in 8 Child
Development Centers (CDI) and in three foster
homes in that city. 1,416 children benefited from
the program this year. The program was developed
in coordination with the Education Subsecretary of
Puerto Madryn’s Town Hall.
“This program has opened new channels
of cooperation and communication
between
families,
institutions
participating and the community”.
Ana de Santiago, specialist of Fundación Leer’s programs.
The objective of the program is to support (with
training and materials) the centers of integral
development and foster homes so they can continue
working on early literacy, and also address issues
inherent to language development of children up to
5 years old.
To carry out this project, 11 managers, 84 teachers
and 70 Community Educational Promoters who are
in charge of these children and their education were
trained.
Newborns and children up to 4 are attended by
“Caring Mothers”: mothers from different districts
who receive a contribution from the Health
Secretary Office of the Government. At 4, children
can go to CDIs – Centers of Integral Development, as
dependents of the Ministry of Education and be
taken care of by teachers.
People in charge of these two Institutions for
children remarked that for the first time they were
participating in educational programs that trained
them to assist children more effectively.
Children up to 3 discover reading in foster homes in Puerto
Madryn.
30
“We had trouble setting up a reading
corner, but we are now very pleased.
By beginning the visit to the doctor with
stories, children and their relatives
address their illness in a more positive
way. Now, we all talk about and laugh
at the stories.
In addition, awareness was raised in the
hospital’s community of the importance
of reading in the intellectual and social
development of children.
Pediatrician at the Hospital de Clínicas.
The Reading Corners reached the Clí
Clínicas
Hospital, in the City of Buenos Aires
Thanks to the support of the Dr. Enrique Rossi
Diagnosis Center, during 2006 we implemented
the program “Reading Corners in Health Centers”
in the Hospital de Clínicas. Theirs was a very
positive and gratifying contribution considering
that 2006 was a tumultuous year for this
Institution. The objective of the program was to
train pediatricians, nurses and volunteers so they
would be able to express to parents how important
it is to encourage their children to bond with books.
The hospital’s staff devoted a lot of extra time to
choosing and remodeling a space to serve as the
Reading Corner. Receiving 450 new books for the
Corner was the crucial point in the Program.
Different motivational activities were used: shared
reading, story telling, and word games with the
children and their families, among others.
Thanks to the effort and commitment of the
professionals, health assistants, and volunteers
from Dr. E. Rossi Diagnosis Center, the objective of
contributing to integral health through reading was
fully achieved.
The perseverance of the hospital’s staff, despite adverse
conditions at work, enabled goals to be reached.
This way, the hospital’s personnel managed to
transform waiting rooms and consulting offices
into spaces where children, their families and
professionals could interact, enjoy talking about
stories and personal experiences. This allowed
patients to start treatments in a more positive way
since now patients had more confidence in doctors.
Now families and children go to a doctor’s visit in a
better mood. The youngest kids enjoy the books of
the Reading Corner, which has a positive and
stimulating atmosphere. Mothers remarked that
this new experience was very enriching since now
the waiting room is much quieter. Also, the Reading
Corner has helped kids have a more frequent
connection with reading.
31
Institutional Programs
Volunteers of Fundación Leer
Fundación Leer’s programs - carried out in different
areas of our country – allow thousands of children,
young people, and adults to participate in activities
related to reading.
“The books motivated mothers to get
interested in reading and that was
priceless."
Bárbara, volunteer from Lucent Technologies S.A. Argentina.
This task is carried out thanks to human resources:
organized and motivated people who offer their
time, experience and knowledge, and whose
contribution is fundamental to fulfill the objective
of promoting reading and literacy.
Mothers are grateful to volunteers for sharing
time with them and with their children.
Within the frame of the Global Day of Charity,
Lucent Technologies Argentina S.A. and Lucent
Foundation selected Fundación Leer for the fifth
consecutive year to carry out solitary actions that
benefited mothers and children from María Eva
Duarte Home, in the Lower Belgrano district in our
Federal Capital. All 10 mothers, who live in that
home together with their children (under 5), come
from families of very low resources and most of
them were homeless before entering the home.
During the day, the volunteers’ team turned a room
which was used as a playroom into a happy Reading
Corner.
23 employees form Lucent Technologies Argentina S.A., many
with their families, contributed with 212 hours of volunteer
work.
Volunteers shared a “Global Charity Day” with
their colleagues, families, and the community of
María Eva Duarte Home. Volunteers acted
resolutely and positively in favor of children’s and
mothers in the Home’s education and tried hard to
make the community become aware of the
importance reading has in the integral
development of kids, with books, material
resources, work, time and dedication.
The coordinators of the Home were very moved
and thankful for the help they had received and the
opportunity they had had to participate in the
program.
A volunteer from Lucent Technologies Argentina S.A painting a
wall with with a mother of the home.
32
Other Companies and their Corporate
Actions in 2006
“It was very enriching for me to
participate in this iniciative. I feel that
this little moment I have volunteered
may help children in their education.
Natalia Varela, GE volunteer.
The group of volunteers from Monsanto Argentina
S.A.I.C. participated for a year in the development
of the Open Book Program, which was carried out
in Kindergarden Nr. 905 in Zárate, a province of
Buenos Aires. In the first place, volunteers
participated in the Initial Training session, and then,
on the day of the Book Event, a group came to the
institution to meet the teachers staff, and to learn
the details about how to implement the program.
Later on, the volunteer team organized everything
so they could be present at the opening of the
Reading Corner and at the Book Event, supporting
both children and adults with their presence in such
special events.
TotalGaz.
TotalGaz In school Nr. 518 “Fray Mamerto Esquiú”
in the city of Rosario, at the end of the year
teachers and volunteers from the TotalGaz
company worked together in the setting up of a
Reading Corner. Volunteers were in charge of the
construction, carpentry, painting and electricity.
When finished, the building looked much better.
Teachers chose 270 new books for the Corner. On
the opening day, volunteers, parents, teachers and
kids enjoyed a pleasant community lunch, where
they played different games. Additionally, 120
children from the school, together with 14
volunteers from the company shared reading and
had a lot of fun.
“Volunteers managed to catch children’s attention”
says Alicia Reynoso, Head of the Kindergarten.
Another day, 2 volunteers attended the
kindergarten to share story time reading with the
kids. The educational community thanked them for
their visit.
Volunteers from TotalGaz decorating the Reading Corner in
the city of Rosario.
33
JPMorganChase
Bank
cooperated
with
Kindergarden Nº 3 in our Federal Capital, which
implemented the Program Open Book Project. The
team of volunteers from the company was trained
by Fundación Leer to accompany children as Story
Teller Friends.
Estanislao Prado, one of the volunteers, said to us:
“The experience was unforgettable. I never thought
I could give some of my time to make children
laugh. The truth is they need it and it is good for
them to be in contact with people different from
those they see every day.”
Volunteers from Rousselot Argentina S.A. organized
a meeting in the offices of the company, where
people discussed the importance of reading in the
children's development. Within the frame of
Reading Marathon Program, two Institutions - EGB
number 10 and number 15, in Hurlingham, were
given more than 600 new books to enjoy in their
respective Reading Corners together with the
volunteers from the company who participated as
Story Teller Friends. Their contribution was
appreciated by teachers and authorities of the
establishments, who felt that this possibility of
having volunteers for the development of this type
of program was an added value.
“It is gratifying to have the chance to carry out
this type of task. It would be very difficult to
do it had we not been involved in this program
of Fundación Leer” .
says Mónica San Martín, volunteer from Rousselot Argentina
S.A.
34
“We got into the little room and action
began... Volunteers began with the
decoration: setting up the shelves and
supports. We worked non-stop all
morning and afternoon, listening to
music, having tasty “mates”… and when
we finished, we enjoyed what we saw as
if we were kids.”
Carmen Alarcón Volunteer from Accenture
Every Friday noon, volunteers from Accenture S.A. go and read
to children in the Reading Corner.
Thanks to the contribution of 8 Volunteers from
Accenture S.A., the Health and Community Action
Center number 21 in Buenos Aires’ Retiro district
now has more resources to enrich the education of
participants, through the program: Fundación Leer’s
Volunteer Corporation Task. To evaluate their
needs, volunteers visited the center where the
Reading Corner would be set up. Then, they worked
on the decoration. The room became a great place
for teaching: happy and cozy. Volunteers fixed up
shelves for the new books, hung blackboards,
decorated the room with brilliant colors, set up
new curtains, etc.
Sparkling Cullighan S.A. supported the Step by
Dow Quí
Química Argentina S.A. implemented the
Step Program at the beginning of 2004 in the
provinces of Buenos Aires and Misiones. Now, 25
corporate volunteers work in the Evangelic
Methodist School “Juana Manso” in Dock Sud, in
three schools in Tortuguitas, and in School number
14 “José Mármol” in Florida.
program Leer es Fundamental Argentina in four
schools in Santa Fe. This year, children were able to
choose from among 1,240 new books in the three
Book Events which took place in the different
institutions. More than 400 students participated in
this program. One teacher said, “We feel the
presence of the volunteers is a very important
motivation. Thanks to them, we feel we are not
alone in our task.”
Volunteers gave special classes on plastic activities,
the cycle of water, and music. They handed out
stories on Cds, and put on a puppet show. In
addition, 2 volunteers from the company- Ignacio
Volaniuk and Luis Picone-collaborated on
administrative tasks in the offices of Fundación
Leer.
HSBC Argentina S.A. supported the Open Book
Program which was implemented in four schools in
the province of Salta. "Juan Carlos Dávalos“ School
and School number 4315 "Reino de Bélgica" had
the support of volunteers who went on the opening
day of the Reading Corner to share this important
event with the community. “Juan Carlos Dávalos”
School received cushions made by volunteers to
decorate the Reading Corner. The community was
very thankful for all the help they had received.
“You don’t get a chance like this very
often. Mothers are surprised to see that
someone
from
the
world
of
entrepreneurs can dedicate part of his
time to their kids.”
A teacher from one of the institutions which works with Dow
Química Argentina S.A.
35
Annual National Reading Marathon
Campaign
On October 20th, 2006, Fundación Leer organized
the 4th National Reading Marathon which brought
together more than 1,800,000 children and adults.
The National Reading Marathon is a noncompetitive event, free of charge, with the goal of
increasing awareness of the importance of reading
and to stress its value in individual and collective
development. This event was declared an
Educational Interest by the National Ministry of
Education, Science and Technology and by the
ministers of eighteen provinces.
Activities multiplied all over the country. In Santa
Lucía, for instance, in the province of Corrientes,
over 1,500 children from public and private schools
gathered at the local square, and performed shows
related to literature and music. They used books
from the library and there were community
celebrations.
“It was really beautiful to see different
groups of children reading together: Kids
in Kindergarden and 1st grade were
listening to stories in their pajamas and
on cushions scattered all over the floor.
Kids from 3rd grade were making a
“picnic-book,” 2nd graders were
treasure hunting, and 4th graders were
acting in plays. All of the groups shared
their activities with teachers, parents,
and grandparents. This turned the
school into a small world of adventures,
laughter and emotions and all thanks to
books.”
Headmistress Helena Casalongue – Initial Level,
EGB I and II
This big reading party can now be an annual event
thanks to the effort of parents, teachers, school
supervisors, doctors in medicine, heads of
community diners and children’s homes, volunteer
story tellers, readers at the park, companies,
foundations, publishing houses and hundreds of
means of communication.
Cover of newspaper La Nación - October 21, 2006
.
36
Campaign to Promote the National Reading
Marathon
TELEFE News and Radio Continental helped to
publicize the Marathon through different
programs. They had interviews with people in
charge of the event, people related to the
promotion of reading, journalists who read stories
to the children, and other participants in the
Marathon.
Additionally, about 70 channels all over the country
cooperated in spreading the news. Newspapers and
magazines such as La Nación, Clarín and Página 12,
among others, offered continued support. The
Asociació
Asociación de Radiodifusores Argentinos was also
present. Over 120 radio stations all over the
country spread information about the event,
broadcasting a story written by Adela Basch. On
the appointed day, they covered information about
the event in different places. ADIRA, “La Asociación
de Diarios del Interior,” and 239 Graphic Means
reported on the Marathon all over the country
using articles, advertisements, banners, and
comments on the event.
Each group collected books, and with the money
collected from a raffle , it was possible to set up
100 Reading Corners in provinces all over the
country.
The Marathon was a success. Over 700 children
got together at the central square. In turn, over
1,600 children from the city participated from
their classrooms. The event was declared of
community interest. Different people helped us
with the reading: personnel from the police
force, firemen, journalists from different media
formats, retired teachers, inspectors, actors,
story tellers, and volunteers in general who
were very enthusiatic about the program.
Cover of the appendix designed by Fundación Leer for the 4th.
National Reading Marathon.
This year, an annex, or specially-colored
supplement for Reading and the Family was
designed. It came out with the Sunday edition two
weeks before the Marathon.
The idea of this booklet was to offer families tools
for the promotion of reading and to make people
aware of how important it is that they have an
active presence in the process of literacy for their
children. It was a powerful tool in spreading
information about the Marathon and contributed
to its increase in exposure.
Representitive of the “Ecos Diarios” newspaper in
Necochea, Buenos Aires.
37
Fundació
Individuals
uals for
Fundación Leer Thanks the Following Enterprises, Foundations and Individ
their Support in the 4th Annual “National Reading Marathon”
Marathon”
ABGRA (Asoc. de Bibliotecarios Graduados de
la Rep. Arg.)
ADIRA (Asociación de Diarios del Interior de
la República Argentina)
Aique Grupo Editor / Laurosse
AMCHAM (Cámara de Comercio de Estados
Unidos en Argentina)
Ana Igne
ARPA (Asociación de Radiodifusoras Privadas
de Argentina)
Asociación Civil Contenidos - medios y
sociedad
Atento Argentina
Banco Comafi
Banco Hipotecario
Banco Río
Cablevisión S.A.
Cámara Argentina del Libro
Cámara de la Producción, la Industria y el
Comercio Argentino China
Carlos Alberto Pla
Carlos Canova
Carlos Etcheverrigaray
Casa Matriz
CCI (Cámara de Cableoperadores del
Interior)
CEGA (Centro de Estudiantes y Graduados
Argentinos en Estados Unidos)
Chevron Argentina
Constanza Ferro
Cooperativa de Provisión de la Prensa
Argentina Ltda.
Diario Clarín
Diario El Tribuno de Salta
Diario La Voz del Interior
Diarios Bonaerenses
Dow Química Argentina S.A.
DYN – Agencia de Diarios y Noticias
Ediciones de la Flor S.R.L.
Ediciones del Eclipse
Ediciones SM
Editorial Albatros S.A.I.C.
Editorial Andrés Bello
Editorial Guadal S.A.
Editorial Sigmar S.A.C.I.
Editorial Sudamericana
Editorial Troquel
Eduardo García Mansilla
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América
en Argentina
Escribanía Esponda
Felipe Videla
Félix de Barrio
Fundación Diario La Nación
Fundación Noble
Fundación Telefónica de Argentina
Gonzalo Fonseca
Grupo Aguilar, Altea, Taurus, Alfaguara S.A.
de Ediciones
Grupo Editorial Planeta
Grupo Farallon Desarrollos Inmobiliarios
S.R.L.
Grupo Gráfico
HelpArgentina
Heriberto Weber
HSBC Argentina Holding S.A.
Integral Express
Jimena Zuniga
Jorge Esponda
José Masjuan
Kapelusz Editora S.A.
Mariana Morera
Matilde Abella
Mediaview
Mercedes Masjuan
Migal Publicidad S.A.
Norberto Velázquez
Paula Torres
Publiaceras
Puerto de Palos S.A. - Casa de Ediciones
Radio Continental
Reader's Digest Argentina S.A.
Revista IDEA
Revista Intercole
Ricardo Defelippe
Santiago Murman
Sarmiento Publicidad Exterior
Sebastián Pla
Spinazzola Vía Pública
Sugar & Spice
Supermercados La Anónima (S.A. Importadora y
Exportadora de la Patagonia)
Syncromind
Telefe
Verónica Cullen de González
Virginia Susin de Masjuan
www.abgra.org.ar
www.bibliotecasvirtuales.com
www.confinesociales.org
www.educ.ar
www.educar.org
www.educared.org.ar
www.elretablodelasmaravillas.org
www.fmkids.com
www.fundacion.telefonica.com
www.gadis.org.ar
www.gdf.org.ar
www.idea.org.ar
www.imaginaria.com.ar
www.infanciaenred.org.ar
www.kidsenlaweb.com.ar
www.laanonima.com.ar
www.labocina.com.ar
www.noveduc.com.ar
www.radiokids.com.ar
www.radiokids.net
www.risolidaria.org.ar
Fundació
Fundación Leer Thanks the Media for their Support in Printing Inserts for
for Fundació
Fundación Leer`s 4th
“National Reading Marathon”
Marathon”
Diario de Cuyo
Diario Docentes
Diario El Argentino
Diario El Chubut
Diario El Diario
Diario El Heraldo
Diario El Independiente
38
Diario El Litoral
Diario El Norte
Diario Época
Diario La Arena
Diario La Gaceta de Tucumán
Diario La Mañana de Bolivar
Diario La Mañana de Formosa
Diario La Mañana de Neuquén
Diario La Nueva Provincia
Diario La Opinión
Diario Norte
Diario Nueva Era
Diario Pregón
Diario Puntual
Ecos Diarios
New Programs
Gallery of Authors is a program
developed by
Fundación Leer in partnership with Fundación
Telefónica and promoted by EducaRed Argentina,
that encourages communication between students,
teachers and authors of children`s books. The
program aims at establishing direct communication
which will encourage children to inquire about
authors and their works and share the fascinating
experience of reading and writing.
During 2006, students and teachers from EGB2
and 3 out of 65 schools in different locations of the
country participated in this internet-based
initiative. The experience was positive both for the
kids, who showed a renewed interest in the world
of
literature,
and
for
the
authors.
(www.educared.org.ar/galeriadeautores)
Reading in the Net is a proposal that offers
teachers a channel of communication facilitating
access to resources and to information to enrich
their task of promoting reading.
Anabella Saks, in charge of the Investigation and
Development Department of Fundación Leer,
remarks: “Teachers have a very heavy responsibility
in encouraging children to read. Their work is very
valuable, and very often they must work under very
adverse conditions. For this reason, it is
fundamental to support them in their work, helping
them to access resources which may motivate
them and provide concrete concepts and strategies
for their tasks. During 2006, this project was
sponsored by La Anónima.
Getting Ready for School is
a program
coordinated by Fundación Leer and developed by
the Step by Step International Association. It
addresses the parents of children between 2 and 5
who do not attend Initial Level Institutions. The
program trains facilitators who give orientations
and offer families concrete strategies to create a
learning atmosphere in their homes. With this
program, children are helped to improve their level
of competency, and to start grammar school with
required skills and an enthusiasm for learning.
In 2006, Fundación Leer implemented this program
in Misiones in two community centers and in seven
community diners. The idea was not to replace the
teachers’ teaching, but to make parents cooperate
at home, through games and situations, so children
would develop skills they would later on need at
school. During its first year, the project was
supported by EMPower- The Emerging Capital
Foundation.
The program involves distributing new books and
electronic educational newsletters and chatting
with specialists. Thanks to Leer en Red, Fundación
can maintain a direct contact with the institutions
that it works with. After the project comes to an
end , companies can also be in touch the
Foundation and educational institutions easily.
39
Other Educational Programs In
Partnership
Our experience implementing the programs in our
country has shown that, when the different sectors
of the community get together and work towards a
common goal, the outcome is better.
At Fundación Leer, we are convinced of the power
that working team generates. This is why we try to
create alliances with other institucions that will
complement us, and thus, be able to serve children
better. We have concreted two new alliances just
this year and another four renew their partnership
year after year.
New Partnerships
Early Literacy Support Program in partnership
with Navarro Viola Foundation
To promote early literacy in children who have no
access to kindergarten is one of the key points to
generating equal opportunities, because it helps
children overcome the obstacles of unfavorable
environments and it facilitates integration.
It is in this context, and with the idea of
responding to this situation, that the Program:
Apoyo a la Alfabetización Temprana, (Support to
Early Literacy) was created, with the help of
Fundación Navarro Viola.
40
It was launched in five Community Centers in the
province of Misiones.
The program trains community facilitators through
a series of eight workshops, where members of the
community learn strategies and key concepts to
help promote literacy in children of high social risk.
The 425 children who benefited directly from the
Program are children up to 5 years old who attend
the Centers. In this type of event, kids have a
chance to choose a book they can keep for good. A
total of 1,315 new children’s books were handed
out.
“Our challenge is to keep on learning, and to
share all our experience with our children. Now
we get together very often as neighbors and
we have created a Reading Corner. The training
was very good. We learned because we
participated in that event ourselves.”
Olga and Inés, Community Center in Barrio Antiguo Centro,
Misiones.
Other Alliances still in Action
Open Project Book, The Newspaper together
with the Noble Foundation
Noble Foundation and Fundación Leer reaffirmed,
once more, the alliance built years ago, which made
the implementation of this program possible.
Open Project Book and The Newspaper are
implemented in sixteen educational institutions
located in the provinces of Catamarca and La Rioja.
“There were 180 children in the
Reading Corner in town. The doctors
who had helped me to implement the
project had intended to stay only 10
minutes at the Reading Corner
inauguration, but they ended up staying
the rest of the morning. It was strange
to see formal-looking doctors tempted
by the new books, and surprised to see
the children’s faces as they gave kisses
to the adults who were ready to tell
them stories.”
A Member of the Community Integration “Los Nogales” Center
in Tucumán.
Reading Corners in Health Centers and
Sudamericana Publishing Group
Opening of one of the 16 Reading Corners in Catamarca and
La Rioja.
Both not only offered institutions the opportunity
to generate a Reading Corner with new children’s
books, but they also offered students and teachers
49 workshops on reading comprehension and the
use of means of communication as a didactic
resource.
This proposal allowed 6.012 young people to
choose a new book for themselves and the
distribution of 14,472 books for the school`s use.
Since 2003, Sudamericana Grupo Editor and
Fundación Leer have been working together on the
Reading Corners in Health Centers project in the
provinces of Río Negro, Santa Fe, Chubut,
Tucumán, Buenos Aires and the City of Buenos
Aires. Since the partnership was created, there have
been 91 Reading Corners built.
The program seeks to create a place where children
can go and read every day. It provides a key
activity crucial to the intellectual development of
kids from an early age. This year, about 44,411
children were encouraged to read in 91 Health
Centers and Hospitals –which means they enriched
their libraries with over 713,200 books.
Fundación Leer was also in charge of the initial
training to teachers so the later, they would be able
to generate their own program to draw children
closer to books.
41
Institutional News
New Members in the Federal Net of Teaching
Formation
Fundación Leer recently became a member of the
Federal Net of Continual Teaching Formation
(RFFDC) in the province of Buenos Aires. Through
this, we are acknowledged as an entity empowered
to train teachers in the province of Buenos Aires
and to offer them qualification through the
courses, a status that our organization already has
in the province of Misiones.
Step by Step International Congress
Association in Bratislava, Slovaquia *
To Promote diversity through
education: to eliminate exclusion and
discrimination to challenge”
From October 26 through the 28th, the ISSA 2006
conference brought together 30 countries in the
heart of Europe to share experiences about
educational projects implemented in different parts
of the world.
Marcela Sisto, Pedagogic Coordinator of Fundación
Leer, and Laura Calderón, Responsible for Special
Projects, were invited to speak about the
experience Fundación Leer is having in Latin
America with the programs: “Step by Step”, and
“Prepared for School.”
42
Fundació
Fundación Leer and Publishing house Albatros
Together at the Book Fair to Cooperate with a
School at Barracas
For the fourth consecutive year, at the Book Fair,
Publishing House Albatros designated 10% of its
sales of the children’s collection “Tus Maravillas” to
Fundación Leer. With these funds, a Reading Corner
was set up in School Buen Consejo in Barracas in
the City of Buenos Aires.
Solidarity Campaign “A book each child" on
Channel 9
Channel 9 and Fundación Leer organized a
Christmas Campaign where television viewers were
invited to collaborate donating new or secondhand children’s books in good condition. These
were sent over to hospitals and children’s
Institutions.
When journalists and actors ended the campaign
on TV, they – together with people from Fundación
Leer – visited Gutiérrez Hospital and read to the
sick children.
ABA’
ABA’s Prize to Education
Fundación Leer, together with the Ministery of
Education, Science and Technology, and the
Academy of Argentine Letters (AAL) sponsored a
competition organized by the Argentine Banks
Association in Argentina (ABA). For the third time
in three years, the ABA prize for 2006 was
dedicated to Education. The main subject proposed
was "Ideas and proposals for the educational
formation of teachers of primary level".
Acknowledgements
Carol Rasco, Presidente y Directora Ejecutiva, RIF
Brent Cantley, Asistente Ejecutivo, RIF
Sarah Klauss, International Step by Step Association
Dawn Tankersley, Open Society Institute
Francisco Almeida
Pedro Luis Barcia
Adela Basch
Ana María Bovo
Berta Braslavsky
Federico Braun
María Freixas de Braun
Martha Buckley, Embajada de los Estados Unidos en
la Argentina
Canela
Alberto Colinas
Alan Crawford
Gustavo Dasso
Horacio Diez
Pablo D´Onofrio
Jorge Esponda
Gonzalo Fonseca
Isabel Friz
Alberto García Hamilton
Alfredo van Gelderen
Pablo Gianella
Carmen Grillo
Patricio Guitart
Gerardo Gustavo Kabbache
Gustavo Koniczer
Federico Krum
Jorge Labanca
Jorge Leiva
Rafael Manzano Torrá
Domingo Marra
Ricardo Mariño
Francisco Mármol
Claudia Marsó
Fabiana Mejalelaty
Mariel Morita
José Mostany
Santiago Murtagh
Santiago Murman
Ana Natino
Florencia Nizzoli
Angélica Ocampo
Carlos Pla
Patricia Pedrini
José Pochat
Cristina Ramos
Paula Ramos
Carlos Rebay
Gustavo Roldán
Diego Rosarios
Julio Saguier
Antonio Salonia
Enrique Schcolnik
Tito Schuticchio
Ana María Shua
Aldo Sessa
Luis Sessa
Pedro Simoncini
Jaime Subirá
Juan Carlos Tedesco
Charles Temple
Mariano C. Tomatis
Felipe Videla
Valeria Vivani
Víctor Zapiola
Noris Zerda
43
Sponsoring Companies, Foundations and Partners in 2006
ABN AMRO Bank
Accenture S.A.
Alcatel - Lucent
Aluar Aluminio Argentino
Asociación Civil Contenidos - medios y sociedad
Asociación de Bancos de la Argentina
Avianca
Banco Comafi
Banco Hipotecario
Banco RIO
BankBoston, N.A.
Cámara Argentina de Publicaciones
Cámara Argentina del Libro
Cámara de la Producción, la Industria y el Comercio Argentino
China
Casa Matriz
Centro de Diagnóstico “Dr. Enrique Rossi”
Citibank, N.A.
Chevron Argentina
Claridge Hotel
Deutsche Bank S.A.
Diario La Nación
Docucax S.A. - Concesionario Autorizado Xerox
Dow Química Argentina S.A.
Editorial Albatros S.A.C.I.
Editorial Sudamericana S.A.
Embajada de Canadá en Argentina
Embajada de Finlandia
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América en Argentina
Embajada de Suiza
EMPower - The Emerging Markets Foundation
Eurofood - Cía. Alimentaria
First Data Western Union Foundation
Fundación Acindar
Fundación Ciudad Arena
Fundación Diario La Nación
Fundación El Libro
Fundación Emprendimientos Rurales Los Grobo
Fundación Navarro Viola
Fundación Noble
Fundación Perez Companc
Fundación Santa María
Fundación Telefónica de Argentina
FutureBrand Southern Cone
GE Foundation
44
General Electric International, Inc.
Grupo ALCOA
Grupo Consultor A&C
Grupo Farallón Desarrollos Inmobiliarios
Grupo Misionero Santa Lucía
HelpArgentina - AVPF IMD Business School
Hotel Emperador
Hotel Presidente S.A. Buenos Aires
HSBC Argentina Holding S.A.
IBM Argentina S.A.
JPMorganChase Bank
JPMorganChase Foundation
La Imprenta Wingord S.A
Lucent Technologies Foundation
Minera Alumbrera Limited
Monsanto Argentina S.A.I.C.
Monsanto Fund
Nextel Communications Argentina S.R.L.
Open Institute of Development
Open Society Institute
Pan American Energy
PBB Polisur S.A.
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Repsol YPF
Rousselot Argentina S.A.
S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la Patagonia
San Enrique Petrolera S.A.
Sessa Editores
Siderca S.A.I.C.
Siemens S.A.
Sparkling - Culligan Argentina S.A.
Sugar & Spice
Symnetics S.A.
Tecpetrol S.A.
Tener S.A.
TheHost
Tito González S.A.C. Y F.
TotalGaz S.A.
Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A.
UBS Optimus Foundation
UPS de Argentina S.A.
UPS Foundation
Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund
Western Union Financial Services Argentina
Contributions - Private Donors
Ana Igne
Ana María Díaz
Carlos Alberto Pla
Carlos Canova
Carlos Etcheverrigaray
Claudio Saladino
Constanza Ferro
Eduardo García Mansilla
Elías Mejalelaty
Elías y Matilde Mejalelaty in Memoria de Jorge
Abulafia
Elías Mejalelaty in Memoria de Julia Leteria Ribuffo
Elías Mejalelaty in Memoria de Rosa Acher
Elías Mejalelaty in Memoria de José Mejalelaty
Félix de Barrio
Heriberto Weber
Jimena Zuniga
José Masjuan
Mariel y Norberto Morita
Martha Harriet
Mariana Morera
Mario Mejalelaty in Memoria de Julia Leteria Ribuffo
Matilde Abella
Mercedes Masjuan
Norberto Velázquez
Patricia V. Mejalelaty
Rebeca I. de Mejalelaty
Ricardo Defelippe
Robert Mumford
Sebastián Pla
Verónica Cullen de González
Virginia Susín de Masjuan
Contributions – Publishing houses
Supplying the Program
Aique Grupo Editor S.A.
Ediciones Colihue S.R.L.
Ediciones de la Flor S.R.L.
Ediciones del Eclipse
Ediciones Orión
Ediciones Santillana S.A.
Ediciones SM S.A.
Editorial Albatros S.A.I.C.
Editorial Andrés Bello Argentina S.A.
Editorial Atlántida S.A.
Editorial Guadal S.A.
Editorial Sigmar S.A.C.e.I.
Editorial Sudamericana S.A.
Editorial Troquel S.A.
Grupo ILHSA S.A.
Kapelusz Editora S.A. Grupo Norma
Puerto de Palos S.A. - Casa de Ediciones
45
InIn-kind Contributions
in 2006
A W Faber Castell Argentina
ABGRA
(Asoc. de
Bibliotecarios
Graduados de la Rep. Arg.)
Adela Basch
ADIRA (Asociación de Diarios del
Interior de la República Argentina)
Aique Grupo Editor/ Laurosse
Aldo Sessa
AMCHAM (Cámara de Comercio de
Estados Unidos en Argentina)
Ana María Shua
ARPA (Asociación de Radiodifusoras
Privadas de Argentina)
Asociación Civil Contenidos - medios y
sociedad
Atento Argentina
Cablevisión S.A.
Canela
Casa Matriz
CCI (Cámara de Cableoperadores del
Interior)
CEGA (Centro de Estudiantes y
Graduados Argentinos en Estados
Unidos)
Comandante Antártico de Ejército
Cooperativa de Provisión de la Prensa
Argentina Ltda.
Diario Clarín
Diario de Cuyo
Diario Docentes
Diario El Argentino
Diario El Chubut
Diario El Diario
Diario El Heraldo
Diario El Independiente
Diario El Litoral
Diario El Norte
Diario El Tribuno de Salta
Diario Época
Diario La Arena
Diario La Gaceta de Tucumán
Diario La Mañana de Bolivar
Diario La Mañana de Formosa
Diario La Mañana de Neuquén
Diario La Nación
Diario La Nueva Provincia
46
Diario La Opinión
Diario La Voz del Interior
Diario Norte
Diario Nueva Era
Diario Pregón
Diario Puntual
Diarios Bonaerenses
Docucax S.A. - Concesionario Autorizado
Xerox
DyN – Agencias de Diarios y Noticias
Ecos Diarios
Edenor S.A.
Ediciones de la Flor
Ediciones del Eclipse
Ediciones SM
Editorial Albatros
Editorial Andrés Bello Argentina
Editorial Guadal
Editorial Sigmar
Editorial Sudamericana
Editorial Troquel
EGB Nº 14 de "Vicente López"
Elba Ediciones
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de
América en Argentina
Escribanía Esponda
Espacio Fundación Telefónica
Estudio Labanca
Eurofood - Compañía Alimentaria Nacional
S.A.
Félix de Barrio
Flia. Mejalelaty
Fundación Banco Francés
Fundación Diario La Nación
Fundación Noble
Fundación Telefónica de Argentina
FutureBrand Argentina
Grupo Aguilar, Altea, Taurus, Alfaguara S.A.
De Ediciones
Grupo Editor Planeta
Grupo Gráfico
Gustavo Roldán
HelpArgentina
Hotel Claridge
HSBC Argentina Holdings S.A.
IBM Argentina S.A.
Ignacio Di Palma
Integral Express
Kapelusz Editora
Libra 4.0
Luis María Pescetti
Mediaview
Migal Publicidad S.A.
OCA
Plásticos Clauser S.R.L.
Publiaceras
Puerto de Palos - Casa de Ediciones
Radio Continental
Reader's Digest Argentina S.A.
Revista IDEA
Revista Intercole
Ricardo Mariño
Sarmiento Publicidad Exterior
Silvia Shujer
Sparkling-U.S. Filter Argentina S.A.
Spinazzola Vía Pública
Sugar & Spice
Supermercados La Anónima
S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la
Patagonia
Symnetics Argentina
Syncromind
Telefe
Telefónica de Argentina
Tener S.A.
The Host
Tito Scuticchio - Disc Jockey
Total Austral
Transporte Avelli
Universidad de Belgrano
UPS de Argentina
Victoria Rodríguez Lacrouts
www.abgra.org.ar
www.bibliotecasvirtuales.com
www.confinesociales.org
www.educ.ar
www.educar.org
www.educared.org.ar
www.elretablodelasmaravillas.org
www.fmkids.com
www.fundacion.telefonica.com
www.gadis.org.ar
www.gdf.org.ar
www.idea.org.ar
www.imaginaria.com.ar
www.infanciaenred.org.ar
www.kidsenlaweb.com.ar
www.laanonima.com.ar
www.labocina.com.ar/
www.noveduc.com.ar
www.radiokids.com.ar
www.radiokids.net
www.risolidaria.org.ar
Resources and Their Application
During 2006, Fundación Leer, in compliance with its mission, offered its programs to 188.951
children and youngsters throughout the entire country to whom we delivered 171.896 new books.
books
This was made possible thanks to the support and contributions received from foundations,
individuals, institutions, and private businesses from within the country as well as from other
locations, with a commitment to the education and future of the children in our country. The
application of these resources are shown as follows.
ORDINARY RESOURCES
$
$
Sponsorship and donations
Cash
2,661,606
In kind
750,702
Subtotal
3,412,308
Other revenue
Evaluation, training and prepartion of
teaching material, nad other
Net financial result
10,000
197
Subtotal
206.979
Total
3.619.287
Application of Resources
Program Costs
Administration Cost
Total
$
3,085,224
69,325
3,154,549
The period in consideration yielded a surplus of $408,146, from which $56,592 was deducted by
way of depreciation of the fiscal year.
At the closing of the fiscal year, the activities of Fundación have developed normally, with no
significant events to mention.
47
Perspectives
The year starting January 2007 will be a time full of
challenges for Fundación Leer: in part, we will be
celebrating our 10 years of action in Argentina.
In light of this milestone, we have renewed our
image and opened a new web page which will
enable us to better communicate our mission.
We will continue strengthening our programatic
lines, both in early and family literacy and in
community centers- our key emphasis still being
the promotion of reading at schools.
The program of Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.
applied in Argentina by Fundación Leer will still be
one of the solid foundations on which we will carry
on our mission, aiming to draw children closer to
books and to the pleasure of reading. We also
hope to see the program Getting Ready for School
grow in cooperation with the International Step by
Step Association and the Institute for an Open
Society Institute.
48
The members of the Board of Directors wish to
thank the 38.690 volunteers from all throughout
the country who have participated in giving us
234.133 hours of their precious time, encouraging
reading and promoting literacy. We also wish to
thank the team of Fundación Leer for its continuos
dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism to
accomplish our mission, and to all the people,
companies and foundations both in our country
and abroad, who have trusted us and our
organization and have supported our task.
Deepest thanks to you all.
Board of Directors
June of 2007
Fundació
Fundación Leer
General Legal Inspection Registration Number : C – 1.632.257/97
General Balance
December 31, 2006 and 2005
31.12.06
12.31.05
Investments
Credits
Total
Cu rrent
Assets
NONCURRENT
ASSET S
Credits
Investments
Fixed Assets
Total NonCu rrent
Assets
Total Assets
235.664
2.554.252
163.091
2.953.007
10.879
219.505
153.214
383.598
3.336.605
12.31.05
$
$
ASSET S
CURRENT
ASSET S
Cash and
checking
accounts
12.31.06
1.907.457 LI ABI LI TI ES
CURRENT
463.062 LI ABI LI TI ES
75.015 Debts
2.445.534 Provisions
Funds for
specified
purposes
Total
10.782 Li ab i l i ti es
200.599
133.812
345.193 EQUI TY
Total
Li ab i l i ti es
2.790.727 and Eq ui ty
71.962
20.220
292.315
146.035
163.199
223.489
527.476
389.744
2.809.129
2.400.983
3.336.605
2.790.727
49
Fundació
Fundación Leer
General Legal Inspection Registration Number:
C – 1.632.257/97
Summary of Resources and Expenditures
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006
compared with results from the prior fiscal year
12.31.05
31.12.06
$
ORDINARY RESULTS
Resources
Donations and monetary sponsorship
Donations and in-kind sponsorship
Evaluation and Preparation of Teaching
Materials and Teacher Training
Repayment of Expenses
Total Resources
Expenses
General Administration
Educational Programs
Repayment of Fixed Assets
Total Expenses
2,661,606
750,70
2,246,496
738,38
10,00
120,00
3,104,871
3,422,308
-69.325
-97.069
-3.085.224 -2.859.122
-56.592
-44.950
-3.211.141 -3.001.141
Net Financial Result
196.979
210.547
Final Surplus for Fiscal Year
408.146
314.277
The Financial Statements of Fundación Leer are annually audited by Price Waterhouse
Coopers, firm that on 12/31/2006 issued its annual report regarding the financial
statements of Fundación Leer for the fiscal year 2006 without any observations.
A copy of the audit report is available upon request at: Executive Direction, Fundación
Leer, Av. Cerviño 4407 1° Floor (C1425AHB), Buenos Aires. Argentina.
50