2007 Fundación Leer`s Annual Report

2007 Annual Report
Encouraging New Generations of
Readers
Contents
Authorities
Letter by Patricia Mejalelaty, Fundación Leer’s Executive Director
Letter by Félix del Barrio, Educational Board Chairman
Educational Context
Fundacion Leer´s 10th Anniversary
1997-2007: Accomplishments of National importance
Scope of Our Work 1997-2007
Our Dream
Our Mission
Who We Are
How We Work
Fundación Leer´s List of Programs
Our Programs
Educational Program Alliance
New Content and the Reinforcement of Capabilities
The scope of Fundación Leer’s task in 2007
Fundación Leer in Figures 2007
Institutional News
Literacy from School
Literacy Programs in Community Institutions
5th National Reading Marathon
Volunteering at Fundación Leer
Acknowledgments
Sponsoring Companies, Institutions, and Organizations
Contributions of Particular Donors
Contributions of Program’s Publishing Companies Providers
Contributions and Donations in 2007
Resources and Their Application
Perspectives
General Outcome
Summary of Resources and Expenses
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11
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14
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18
20
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25
26
30
34
40
44
48
49
50
51
51
54
55
56
57
1
Authorities
Chairman:
Félix de Barrio
Deputy Chairman:
Eduardo García Mansilla
Treasurer:
Elías Mejalelaty
Secretary:
Jorge N. Labanca
Members:
Horacio Diez
Carlos Etcheverrigaray
María Freixas de Braun
Ignacio A. González García
Fernando Malenquini
Santiago Murtagh
Aldo Sessa
Pedro Simoncini
Mario Vázquez
Acting members:
Jorge Galperín
Matilde Mejalelaty
Executive Director:
Patricia Mejalelaty
Auditor:
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Advisory Council:
Dr. Pedro Luis Barcia
Prof. Berta Braslavsky
Ing. Guillermo Battro
Dr. Guillermo Jaim Etcheverry
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
3
Dear Friends of Fundación Leer:
2007 has been a distinguished year not only because it marked our Tenth Anniversary but
also because of the enriching moments of revision and reflection on our programs and
initiatives we have had in order to learn from our experiences, systematize good working
practices, and continue studying our task in depth.
In this sense, being aware of Argentina´s current educational background and the real needs that teachers,
community leaders, and other social actors have, our team focused on improving and further analysing our
projects’ general contents, especially their trainings
As an organization, we wanted to establish a bridge between the academic world and the recipients of our
actions. Enriching their literacy process, we give recipients several current conceptual environments and
strategies, which research has shown to be more effective to bring children and young people closer to the
world of reading.
Gradually, we have added key concepts to children’s comprehensive education, such as reading
comprehension and critical thinking development, thus achieving high-quality and analytical proposals.
The year 2007 made us extremely happy with the success of the 5th National Reading Marathon, a
milestone that reached more than 2,500,000 children and adults around the country. It was a real party
that brought children and adults together around books and reading.
In other news, led by the energy and enthusiasm resulting from a decade of rewarding work, we started
working on the strategic plan that will guide our task in the next five years. Supported by well-known
people in the world of education and culture, in 2007 we started creating the strategic plan with the idea
that it will not only reflect the knowledge acquired, but will also include new challenges to continue giving
answers and offering new choices to contribute fully to the achievement of our goal.
Once more I would like to thank the people and the institutions who believed in the organization for their
strong commitment and trust. I would especially like to thank teachers and community leaders who carried
out our programs, as well as each of the volunteers that join us every day. I am also grateful to Reading is
Fundamental Inc., Open Society Institute, and International Step by Step Association for joining us and
doing everything they can to develop alliance programs
As well, I would like to thank our sponsors, publishing companies, and individuals for helping us achieve our
goal around the country.
Patricia Mejalelaty
Executive Director
5
Dear Friends of Fundación Leer:
It has been over a decade since I was asked to participate in the creation of Fundación
Leer, which we based on key attributes of the Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.,
organization, founded more than 40 years ago in the United States.
Today, after 10 years of working with an organization that is getting ever stronger and more recognized, after
weighing all that we have achieved, it seems like a long period of work. At the same time, if I think of all
there is left for us to do in the areas of promoting reading and literacy in Argentina, I feel as if 10 years is
very little time at all.
Between our achievements that fill us with satisfaction and the new challenges that wait ahead, I understand
the fundamental importance to reflect on those factors that have contributed to our growth. In this sense, I
am convinced that the professionalization of non-governmental organizations is a key element to survival in
our current, complicated stage and is a key element to expand the fulfillment of our our proposed objectives.
From our beginnings in the Foundation, we have continued down a course to find alternatives for the
professionalization of our management and form a highly capable work team.
The results we have achieved in the 10 years since our birth have supported our chosen path as appropriate.
Nevertheless, we are conscious that the professionalism and the incorporation of new techniques are
necessary but not sufficient to intervene properly in the field of education and developing work at the social
level.
It is imperative to cultivate human contact, establish a respectful dialog, and be empathetic with each
partner that participates in our programs, as well as sustain a generous and supportive attitude. And I believe
as well that in this sense, we have accomplished important work, thanks to the warmth, sensitivity, and
dedication of our team and all those volunteers that join with our organization.
With pride, today I can say that Fundación Leer has grown and has entrenched itself as an Argentine
organization capable of realizing an important contribution in the field of education.
All of our achievements would not have been possible without the complete support of companies and
organizations that assume their social responsibility with sincerity and commitment.
With that, once again through this report, I appreciate all those that support us with the fulfillment of our
mission.
Félix de Barrio
President
7
Educational Context
The educational situation that closed 2007 invited us
to think that renovated education constitutes a
necessity for the construction of a better Argentina.
It is not possible to think of a better country without
quality education.
Quality education implies that students do not fail
and continue in school.
It also implies educators are prepared to promote the
learning of students and facilitate access to culture.
From this perspective, at Fundación Leer we imagine
an educator capable of mediating between culture
and children, in fact to act as a fundamental support
to guarantee the right to an education.
In this sense, there is still in Argentina much more
work to do. While the new education law aspires to
let all Argentine children over 4 years old
compete at the first level, it is still only a dream.
That is to say, in Argentina, only 52,9% of children
between 3 and 4 years old are able to enter the first
level. It's also recognized that even though students
are able to enter school, they are not always
successful in learning, in fact 9% of our country's
children repeat the first level.
In regards to reading and comprehension of texts, first
place went to Korea, and as for Latin America, Chile
lead in the 38th position, followed by Uruguay,
Mexico, Brazil and Colombia. In Mathematics, the best
performance went to Taiwan and in the Latin
American region, only Colombia and Brazil were below
Argentina, while Uruguay, Chile and Mexico were
higher.
Regardless, even though the educational context is not
favorable, to have a desire for quality education is
indispensable for the construction of a better
Argentina.
These small realities make up the the larger reality of
Argentina and show us that whoever works with youth
educators have, along with the State and other
organizations, large challenges.
Educational quality is in the national education plan.
To bring children and youth closer to reading and
accompany teachers to reinforce and update their
tools to become real reading mediators is the promise
of Fundación Leer.
In addition, the data from recent international
evaluations like PISA (Program for International
Student Assessment) about the performance of
secondary students in science are not very
encouraging. In fact, out of 57 countries, Argentina is
53rd in reading and comprehension of texts and
52nd in mathematics.
[1] Source taken from an UNESCO report:
www.unesco.org/education
[2] Source: Red Federal de Información Educativa.
Ministerio de Cultura y Educación, 2002.
Escuela N 2 "Domingo Faustino Sarmiento"
– Corrientes,, orrientes. Banco Santander Río S.A.
9
Our First 10 Years
Fundació
Fundación Leer in its 10th Anniversary
On May 22, 2007, Fundació
Fundación Leer celebrated its
10th anniversary. The gathering counted with the
presence of the renowned Argentine writer and
journalist Tomá
Tomás Eloy Martí
Martínez,
nez, who is a professor at
Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA and the
author of several books.
The celebration was held at the Museum of LatinAmerican Art of Buenos Aires (MALBA) and it
gathered more than 400 guests, including sponsors,
members of several organizations, educational
authorities, and representatives of the cultural
environment.
The president of the foundation, Mr. Félix de Barrio
and its executive officer, Prof. Patricia Mejalelaty,
pointed out the value of the celebration and
summarized the main goals achieved and challenges
faced by the organization.
As for writer Tomás Eloy Martínez, he referred to
reading as an endless learning. “We are born without
knowing how to read, but we learn to read better
everyday, because the more we read, the more we
grow up, the better we understand the breathings of
the world and we get ready to reveal the
complexities of reality”.
Eloy Martínez expressed the need to help new
generations to get in touch with books, reading, and
knowledge to get them prepared for the real
situations presented in the contemporary world.
“Times are different now,” -said Eloy Martínez-, “and
in many homes misery takes the place of what was
previously occupied by knowledge. No longer are the
battles in this globalization era fought to conquer or
create new readers, but for the market not to
unteach them, for the readers not to lose the habit
of regarding a book as a way to see themselves”.
The writer also commented on the changes in access
to books. “It is said that everyday there’s less reading.
That’s a mistake,” he stated. According to Eloy
Martínez, there actually is more reading these days,
but in a different way. Just like the invention of the
printing press changed the relation between the
author and the reader, in some way, the ubiquity of
virtuality brought back the communitarian way to
read, communicate, and interact through signs.
“These are whirling times. Information is available for
everyone. Therefore, the greatest challenge is
teaching how to use the tools given to access such
information. The battle for education is, basically, a
battle against isolation and poverty,” said Eloy
Martínez.
In the end, he thanked Fundación Leer for its work,
highlighting the organization efforts to help millions
of children “find in books the necessary
encouragement to realize their dreams and to
transmit them.”
Fundación Leer thanks all its sponsors and
collaborators who made this possible: Museo de Arte
Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA),
FutureBrand Argentina, Casa Matriz, Argentina
Banco Santander Río, Cámara Argentina del Libro,
Supermercados La Anónima, Asociación de Bancos
de la Argentina, Chevron Argentina, Dow Química
Argentina, Editorial de Comunicaciones Públicas
(Very Important People), Fundación Andreani,
Fundación Telefónica de Argentina, HSBC Argentina
Holding, Los Petersen Cocineros, Malba - Fundación
Costantini, Tecpetrol, Casa Matriz Argentina,
CoolMedia, Energía y Soluciones, Félix de Barrio ,
Sessa Editores, Sugar & Spice.
11
19971997-2007: Accomplishments of National Importance
Since its creation and thanks to the support of companies, entities, other foundations, and countless
individuals, Fundación Leer has taken its programs to 23 Argentine provinces and to the Autonomous City of
Buenos Aires.
782,655
5,831,250
1,3
1,384,430
84,430
8,246
2,112
467 places
children
participated in
our educational
programs.
children and
young people
participated in
the Argentine
Book Marathons.
new children’s
books were
distributed
amongst kids
and young
people of scarce
economic
resources.
teachers and
community
representatives
were trained.
schools
and
centers
applied our
programs.
in the entire
country
participated
in our
projects.
Results and Incidence
Children read more and better: They improve their
oral and written production, have the courage to
speak in public, discover reading is a pleasant activity,
improve their development at school, and
acknowledge the importance of education for their
personal development.
Companies and their volunteers: They incorporate
their human resources in the foundation’s task, and
actively participate in the tasks proposed by the
institutions; their employees also become active
reading models.
Teachers and community representatives: They
incorporate new devices to encourage reading, and
discover new ways to approach not only the
educational, but the general community as well; they
feel appreciated and enrich their own professional
lives.
Parents: They are more involved in their children’s
school activities, become positive reading models,
acknowledge the importance of reading for the future
of their children, and start to enjoy reading within
family.
Communitarian Centre "Santa Rosa“ – El Dorado, Misiones –
Finland Embassy
13
Scope of the Activities:
Activities: 1997 - 2007
Chaco;
Campo Largo
Charata
Corzuela
Gancedo
Fontana
Makallé
Margarita Belén
Presidencia de La Plaza
Resistencia
Roque Saenz Peña
Misiones;
El dorado
Esperanza
Guatambú
Jardín América
Montecarlo
Oberá
Posadas
Puerto
San Vicente
Buenos Aires;
Mar del Plata
9 de Julio
Mar del Sur
A. G. Chavez
María I. Vela
Santiago del Estero
Adolfo Chavez
Martín Coronado
Añatuya
Adolfo Sourdeaux
Martínez
Tucumán;
Jujuy;
Bandera
Salta;
Aldo Bonzi
Matheu
Aguilares
La Quiaca
Herrera – Dpto. Avellaneda
Camp. Vespucio
Arrecifes
Máximo Paz
El Bracho-Cruz Alta
Lib. Gral. San Martin Lugones - Dpto. Avellaneda
General Mosconi
Avellaneda
Mercedes
El Colmenar-Las Talitas
La Silleta
Ayerza-Pergamino
Miramar
Juan B. Alberdi
Las Lajitas
Formosa;
Azul
Monte Grande
La Cruz
Lumbreras
Formosa
Bahía Blanca
Morea
Los Nogales. Comuna de Tafi
Río Ancho
Banfield
Moreno
Viejo
Corrientes;
Río del Valle
Baradero
Muñiz
Catamarca;
Marapa
Concepción
Salta
Barracas
Munro
Andalgalá
San M. de Tucumán
Corrientes
Savador Mazza
Béccar
Olivera
Belén
Yerba Buena
Chavarría
Tartagal
Belén de Escobar
Olivos
Santa María
Belgrano
Orense
Entre Ríos;
Córdoba:
Benavidez
Pablo Podestá
La Rioja;
Aldea San Antonio
Alta Gracia
Berazategui
Pacheco
La Para
La Rioja
Colonia Avellaneda
Arias
Berisso
Pehuajó
Marcos Juarez
Colonia Oficial N°6
Bengolea
Bocayuva
Pellegrini
Mina Clavero
Concordia
San Juan;
Camino Villa Posse
Boulogne
Pergamino
Monte Cristo
Concepción del
Rawson
Charras
Bragado
Pilar
Olaeta
Uruguay
San Juan
Córdoba
Bransen
Poblet
Río Tercero
Gualeguaychú
Villa Independencia
Dean Funes
Campana
Quilmes
Río Cuarto
Hasenkamp
Embalse
Cañada Seca
Quilmes Oeste
San Francisco
La Paz
Gral. Cabrera
Capilla del Señor
Ramallo
Ciudad de
Ucacha
Paraná
Gral. Deheza
Carapachay
Ramos Mejía
Buenos Aires Seguí
Villa Carlos Paz
Hernando
Carlos
Casares
Rauch
Villa María
Tabossi
Jesus María
Carlos Tejedor
Remedios de
Victoria
La Carlota
Carmen de Areco Caseros Escalada
Castelar Norte
Roberts
Santa Fe;
Castelli
Rojas
San Luis;
Aldao
Chacabuco
Salliqueló
Ciudad de la Punta
Arroyo Seco
Mendoza:
Chascomús
San Andrés
San Luis
Cañada de Gomez
Neuquén:
Barrio Cano
Chivilcoy
San Antonio de
Fighiera
Andacollo
Barrio San Martín
City Bell
Areco
Firmat
Cutral – Có
Carrodilla
Ciudad Evita Ciudad Jardín San Antonio de
Funes
Junín de Los Andes
El Sauce
Ciudadela Norte
Padua
Pto. General San Martín
Neuquén
El Resguardo
Claypole
San Fernando
La Pampa;
Pujato
Picun Leufu
Guaymallén
Coronel Granadas
San Francisco de
Abramo
Rafaela
Piedra
de
Águila
Godoy Cruz
Del Viso
Bellocq
Carro Quemado
Rosario
Plaza Huincul
Lavalle
Dock Sud
San Francisco
Gral. Pico
San José de la Esquina
Radio U. Añelo
Las Heras
Don
Torcuato
Solano
Quehue
San Justo
Rincón de Los Sauces
Las Tortuguitas
El
Palomar
San Isidro
Santa Rosa
San
Lorenzo
S. M. de Los Andes
Los Corralitos
El Talar de Pacheco
San Jorge
Santa Teresa
Santa Fe
Senillosa
Luján de Cuyo
Escalada
San Justo
Telén
Timbúes
Sierra
de
Huantraico
Maipú
Escobar
San Martín
Venado Tuerto
Villa La Angostura
Mendoza
Ezeiza
San Nicolás
Villa Cañas
Vista Alegre Sur
Rivadavia
Ezpeleta
San Nicolás de los
Villa
Constitución
Zapala
San Rafael
Félix V. Camet
Arroyos
Uspallata
Fiorito
Santos Lugares
Lomas de Zamora
Sarandí
Florencio Varela
Sourigues
Chubut;
Tierra del
Río Negro;
Florida
Tandil
Blancuntre
Fuego:
Allen
Garín
Temperley
Cachacay Oeste
Río Grande
Bariloche
General Pacheco
Tigre
Antártida
Comodoro Rivadavia
Ushuaia
Catriel
General San Martín
Tolosa
Argentina:
Dolavon
Choele-Choel
Santa Cruz;
Gonnet González Catán
Tornquist
Base Esperanza
Esquel
El Bolsón
Calafate
Henderson
Tortuguitas
Gan Gan
El Cuy
Caleta Olivia
Hurlingham
Tres Arroyos
Gastre
El Foyel
Cañadón Seco
Ingeniero White
Urquiza
General Mosconi
General Roca
Gobernador Gregores
Isidro Casanova Ituzaingo Vedia
Puerto Madryn
Guerrico-Allen
Las Heras
José León Suárez José María
Vicente López
Rawson
Luis Beltrán
Perito Moreno
Gutiérrez José Mármol
Victoria
Sarmiento
Peñas Blancas
Pico Truncado
Junín
Villa Adelina
Sepuacal
Villa Regina
Puerto San Julián
La Cava Chica
Villa Ballester
Telsen
Puerto Santa Cruz
La Lucila
Villa Bosch
Trelew
Río Gallegos
La Matanza
Villa Domínico
San Julián
La Plata
Villa Elisa
La Tablada
Villa Lugano
Laferrere
Villa Lynch
Lanús
San Martín
Lanús Este Laprida
Villa Martelli
Las Flores
Villa Sauze
Las Mandarinas
Villa Soldati
Brandsen
Villa Tesei
Lincoln
Villa Udaondo
Loma Hermosa
Virreyes
Lomas de Zamora
Wilde
Lomas del Mirador
William Morris
Longchamps
Zárate
Los Troncos del Talar
Lujan
14
Our Task
Our Dream
A literate country with children who have access to
books and who have discovered the pleasure provided
by reading and its value.
Our Mission
To encourage reading and promoting children and
youth literacy in our country, with a positive and
lasting impact on their personal development that will
facilitate their integration into the society.
Therefore, it provides training with innovative
strategies, pedagogic advice, and technical assistance,
not to mention materials and new books to build
effective environments for literacy.
The programs of Fundación Leer are applied in both
public and private schools in urban and rural areas,,
libraries, hospitals, community centers, food
assistance centers, centers for kids with disabilities,,
reformatories, and recreational institutions.
Our Work
Who We Are
Fundación Leer was created in March, 1997 with the
intent of contributing, from the private area, to the
acquisition of a collective youth reading habit, a major
feature in the educational process and an essential
factor in the active integration into the society.
For such a purpose, Fundación Leer entered into a
license agreement with Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.
(RIF) in the United States. Consequently, it was
operate RIF’s programs in our country. Argentina is the
second country in the world and the first among the
Hispanic countries to obtain a RIF license.
Likewise, in 2004, it executed a cooperation
agreement with the Open Society Institute and the
International Step by Step Association, and the
foundation operates their projects in the Argentine
Republic.
In addition, Fundación Leer carries out programs of its
own and those developed in conjunction with other
institutions.
Fundación Leer works at a national level, though keeps
a local view. Its works aim to strengthen the
institutions and community networks within which it
is engaged so that they may design and develop
literacy projects targeted at children and young
people.
16
The core of our work is:
The training of adults who work with children
and young people so that they may guide them
to discover the pleasure of reading, strengthen
their reading skills, and understand the
importance
of
their
development—as
individuals and as members of the community.
The delivery of new books,
books selected by each
member
institution
to
build
reading
environments and/or for the kids to take home
as their own.
The provision of pedagogic advice and technical
assistance to control and evaluate the
programs.
The promotion of the acquisition of the
projects by institutions and communities so
that they can be fully supported.
Fundación Leer’s List of Programs
00--55 Years
Añ
Años
00--55 Years
Añ
Años
Early
Early and
and Family
Family
Literacy
Literacy Programs
Programs
66--88 Years
Añ
Años
66--88 Years
Añ
Años
99--11
Añ
11 Years
Años
99--11
Añ
11 Years
Años
1212--14
Añ
12
14 Years
Años
1212--14
Añ
12
14 Years
Años
Shared Beginnings
Preparados para la
Prepared for School
Escuela
Familiy of Readers
Reading Is Fundamental Argentina and Project Open Book
School and Family
Book Marathons
School
School Literacy
Literacy
Programs
Programs
Prepared for Life
Gallery of Authors
The Writing Experience
Little Explorer
Step by Step and Reading and Writing for Critical Thought
Care to Read
Community
Community
Institution
Institution Literacy
Literacy
Programs
Programs
Centers
ers
Reading Corners in Libraries, Health Centers, and Community Cent
Formation of Community Agents as Promoters of Reading
Projects to Strengthen Community Literacy
Support Program for EarlyEarly-Childhood Literacy
Institutional
Institutional
Programs
Programs
Annual National Reading Marathon Campaign
Program of Corporate Volunteers
17
Our Programs
Literacy Programs in School
Early and Family Literacy Programs
Reading
Is
Fundamental
Argentina(*):
contributes to the development of a primary
link between children and books through
activities and trained teachers. Often children
choose their first new books during Book
Events.
Project Open Book(*): strengthens the literacyrelated homework from school and create
reading spaces with new books that are
adequate for the different age ranges. Each
space is setup by the community and used daily
by the children and their families
Reading Marathons:
Marathons provide schools a
systematic way to work to create autonomous
readers.
Prepared for Life:
Life strengthens the abilities that
children will need to enter society. The focus of
the work is on self esteem, critical thought,
decision-making,
and
interpersonal
communication.
The Experience of Writing;:
Writing; helps adolescents
begin the process of creative writing.
Step by Step(**): improves academic
performance through teaching strategies that
include the family in the educational process
that also promotes democratic values in the
school.
Reading and Writing for Critical Thinking:
Thinking based
principally on the capabilities of primary school
teachers, Provides strategies and educational
techniques to promote critical thinking and
active learning.
Shared Beginnings(*).: to strengthen the
capabilities of young mothers who provide
strategies and resources to accompany the
development of language and emerging writing
in their children from birth to 5 years.
Prepared for School(**): for parents of children
between 2-5 years old who do not attend first
level institutions so that they arrive at primary
school with the necessary skills and enthusiasm
to learn.
Family of Readers(*): for parents of children in
the first level and primary school to set aside
the necessary tools to create literacy
environments in their homes and promote
reading within the family.
Initial school level N° 2408 "Acuarela“ – Puerto Madryn, Chubut –
Aluar Aluminio Argentino S.A.I.C.
18
Literacy Programs in Community Institutions
Programs for Corporate Volunteering
Provide companies the possibility to organize
rotating volunteer activities in programs that
promote reading. With this objective,
Fundación Leer enables the volunteers and
benefiting institutions, coordinates actions, and
monitors results of the projects.
Care To Read*:
Read strengthens the abilities of
people who are responsible for guarderias, or
community centers, that tend to the needs of
children up to 5 years old. Works to enable and
offer resources to the centers so that they may
work in the field of early literacy.
Workshops to create Community Agents:
Agents
prepare community center workers to promote
the interest for reading and communicate it's
importance
to
personal
and
social
development.
Annual "National Reading Marathon“ Campaign
Reading Corners in Community Dining Halls:
enable those responsible in the field of
promoting reading and provide new books to
be utilized by children and youths.
Reading Corners in Hospitals and Health
Centers:
Centers enable pediatricians, nurses, and other
professionals to bring children whom they care
for in those institutions closer to reading and
communicate its importance to families, much
like volunteers do.
An educational event highly visible at the local
and national level that encourages children and
adults to read for pleasure for one entire one
work day. Aimed principally at schools, but also
libraries, food kitchens, hospitals, and clubs,
amongst other institutions. The Marathon is
not competitive and is free.
*These programs are developed with permission from
Reading Is Fundamental Inc.
**These programs are developed in cooperation with the
Open Society Institute and the International Step by Step
Association.
All Fundacion Leer programs include Capability building,
pedagogic advice ongoing technical assistance and
monitoring
Home for girls La Misericordia – Ciudad de Buenos Aires
19
Educational Program Alliances
•
KidSmart Young Explorer.
Explorer For the seventh
consecutive year, Fundación Leer continued its
work to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the
KidSmart - Little Explorer program that was
developed by IBM in Argentina and other
countries around the world with the goal of
integrating technology as a teaching resource in
primary-level classrooms. During this period, 16
institutions in the city and province of Buenos
Aires benefited.
•
Reading Network is an initiative developed in
partnership with S.A. Imports and Exports of
Patagonia that offers 180 schools in the
Patagonia region that have run previous courses
with Fundación Leer. It provides different
resources and alternatives to continue the
promotion of reading. This includes the delivery
of children's literature to enrich existing reading
spaces, proposals to speak with Fundación Leer
professionals (via chat), and have dialogs with
prestigious authors of children's literature (via
chat). Furthermore, an electronic publication
was developed by the professionals of
Fundación Leer with the goal of providing
teachers and educators high quality materials
and proposals to deepen their educational
work.
Since the beginning, Fundación Leer has developed
diverse alliances with other organizations that
contribute to the expansion and enrichment of their
programs and proposals. In 2007, we actively
maintained key alliances for our work:
Gallery of Authors is a program based entirely
on internet use and developed by Fundación
Leer, in partnership with Fundación Telefónica
and promoted by EducaRed Argentina. It
proposes to foster meetings between students,
teachers, and writers of infant and youth
literature. It looks to establish close and direct
communication that allows children to inquire
about authors and their works and share their
fascinating reading and writing experiences. In
2007, 65 schools participated in various parts of
the country. Children were able to explore the
web pages of prestigious authors of
contemporary argentine literature and chat
with them.
(www.educared.org.ar/galeriadeautores)
Centre of neighborhood Puerto Mado – El Dorado, Misiones
Fundación Navarro Viola
20
New Content and the Reinforcing of
Capabilities
In 2007, aware of the present stage of education in
Argentina and as a result of the observation and
evaluation of the needs of institutions, teachers, and
other agents, we are working on the reformulation,
reinforcement, and broadening of the general
content of our programs and in particular their
training.
In this way, we propose to create a bridge between
the academic world and the beneficiaries of our
actions, including in our training work and in the
diverse materials that we distribute updated
conceptual and effective strategies to work in the
field of literacy.
Capacitación programa Proyecto Libro Abierto –
Tecpetrol S.A.
Some of the topics included in our programs and
trainings are:
•
Reading Comprehension
•
Strategies for the development of critical
thinking
•
Strategies for the approach to different types of
texts
•
Criteria for the selection of literary texts
Training in reading corners health centres – Editorial Sudamericana
21
2007 Outcomes and Impact
Scope of the Activities in 2007
213,866
199,442
243 spaces for
42,433 volunteers
1,456 teachers
children and
adolescents
participated in
Fundación Leer
programs this
year.
new books were
chosen during
2007 by children
and institutions
of low income
and at risk
communities
throughout the
country. In many
cases, this was
the first time that
they had a book
of their own at
home.
reading new books
selected by the
community itself
were created in
institutions around
the country
(schools, hospitals,
community
centres, and
libraries to name a
few).
throughout the country
contributed to the
implementation of the
programs , collaborating
on different foundation
aspects (organization,
reading with the children,
fund-raising, teaching
materials ellaboration)
and with the supporting
of tasks developed by
the Fundación
(translations, illustration
of stories, telephone
surveys, administration
of tests, etc.) They
donated 234,133 hours
to our organization.
and community
leaders received
training to improve
their practice
incorporating
innovative
strategies. These
benefit the reading
skills of children.
737
institutions
(schools,
community food
halls, hopspitals,
minors homes, and
health centers)
were selected
along with donors
to benefit from
various programs
of the Foundation.
24
214
cities in all
provinces and the
autonomous city
of Buenos Aires
carried out various
activities to
promote reading.
2,367,931
children
participated in the
5th annual National
Book Marathon
182
corporations,
foundations, and
individuals financially
supported our projects
and activities in a
diverse portfolio that
included local and
foreign organizations.
Some joined in 2007
and others support us
consistently every year.
94
corporations,
SMEs, and friends of
the Fundación
contributed in-kind
donations that
included free
advertising and
promotion of our
activities, printing and
photocopying, lodging,
transportation,
catering, training
classrooms,
administrative and
consulting services,
mailings, and designs
among others .
Fundació
Fundación Leer Figures in 2007
Distribution of Programs
by Type
10.00%
13.25%
6.04%
Books Distributed by Type
of Program
7.80%
11.83%
16.77%
70.63%
64.30%
Literacy Programs in Community
Institutions.
Early Literacy and Family
Programs.
Literacy Programs in Schools.
Institutional Programs.
Population Receiving Programs by
Age
4.03%
Books Distributed by Type
of Institution
2.85%
4.03%
10.08%
14.45%
85.88%
0-5 years
6-14 years
15 + years
78.65%
Popular Library
Community Center
Hospital / Health Centre
Educational institutions
25
Institutional News of 2007
New Strategic Plan. With the support of
Symnetics Argentina we began to develop the
plan that will guide our work over the next 5
years. The process includes consultation with
prestigious leaders of our culture and
education.
Human Resources: New Evaluation Plan. With
support from Vitol S.A. through Empower-The
Emerging Markets Foundation we began to
develop a plan to standardize our management
processes and evaluation of human resources.
26
Winner of the Prize Mate.ar Silver for Our
Website (www.leer.org.ar). The award is a
recognition of the principal leaders concerning
the world of computers and
telecommunications to the best websites
developed in Argentina. Our institutional space
on the internet was the winner in the category
"Foundations and NGOs." Fundación Leer
thanks Fundación Telefónica for the support on
the development of the site.
Beneficiaries of a Night Help Argentina in New
York. Under the alliance developed with
HelpArgentina—an international organization
that links donors and volunteers with highly
qualified organizations of the Argentinian
civilian sector— we were beneficiaries of the
fundraising gathered at a dinner held in New
York, thans also to the coordination of our
volunteer Jimena Zúñiga
Launch of the Movie: “Fundacion Leer in
Misiones."
Misiones To mark our tenth anniversary, our
team developed a video summarizing the work
done in Montecarlo, Misiones, which since its
inception the foundation has been
implementing programs in schools and
community centers.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXRzjTxuc
1Y)
33 International Book Fairs in Buenos Aires. In
2007, our participation in this event was
deepened through different actions:
Design of Libararies for Children. Future Brand
Argentina donated to Fundación Leer the design
of two mobile modules for kids specially
created to integrate themselves funcitonally to
reading spaces in the institutions. The modules
deal with small libraries whose dimensions are
ideal to work with children .
– Editorial Albatros together with the
Foundation Editorial Albatros renewed its
support to the foundation, earmarking a
percentage of their revenue to create a
space for reading at a community center in
the neighborhood of Barracas in Buenos
Aires
Participation in the Congress of Early Education
of the ISSA (International Step by Step
Association) and of the OSI. Our educational
program coordinator travelled to Belgrade,
Serbia, where she participated in this
international gathering of educators in which
programs were presented by the foundation
and experiences were shared with other
specialists.
– Workshops for teachers choose from a sea
of books. In agreement with Fundación El
Libro, specialists from the foundation
coordinated workshops for educators who
shared key concepts for the selection of
children's literature.
- Presentation of the Program Authors
Gallery at Microsoft Argentina.
Fundacion Leer was convened by
Educared Argentina (Fundación
Telefónica) to present the program
‘’Gallery of Authors,’’ as an example of
the use of technological resources with
an educational purpose.
- Presentation of the book Peter and the
Circus (Fred Phillips, Editorial Lumen) and
the Sale of Copies to Benefit the
Foundation. A member of the team
participated in the presentation of this
work and the profits from the sale of this
book went to support the work of the
foundation.
Community Centre of Fopar Neighbourhood- Santa Sylvina,
Chaco - Embassy of Switzerland
► Prize ABA to Education. Fundación Leer
alongside with the Ministry of Education,
Science and Technology and the
Argentinian Academy of Letters(AAL)
sponsored the contest organized by the
Association of Banks of Argentina (ABA)
for the ABA Award 2007. Professionals of
the foundation took part of the pre-jury
of the contest, whose theme was "A
school that teaches thinking ."
►Come So I Can Tell You Cycle. With the
support of the Argentinian Chamber of
the Book , we organized a cycle of
reading workshops in bookshops of the
city of Buenos Aires aimed at children
and their families. The proposal allowed
us to be present in a key cultural
environment of the city, spreading our
work among new audiences interested in
supporting us
Come So I Can Tell You Cycle- Buenos Aires
27
The Programs in Action:
Cases to Share
Literacy From School
High Quality Education for Children at Risk in
Misiones
With the support of UBS Optimus Foundation, the
high quality educational program for children at risk
developed entirely by Fundación Leer was
implemented in the town of Montecarlo, Misiones.
This program combines components of the Project
Open Book and the Step by Step programming,
which aim to promote social inclusion, family
involvement, and the achievement of academic
learning and critical thinking skills.
The initiative benefited 1,390 students from three
institutions. Teachers participated in training
sessions conducted by qualified national and
international specialists and subsequently received
permanent technical assistance.
Schools received more than 3,300 books for building
reading corners and for every child to take their own
book home. Also, various teaching materials and
textbooks were distributed to enrich the teaching
proposals
"Teacher, I studied a lot in my house. My sister
helped me. I hid behind the house to read because
my mom did not want me to read; she wanted me to
help her at home. "
Maribel, 2nd year, School No. 607
The evaluation of the program yielded encouraging
results:
Grade repetition was reduced
92% of pupils achieved success in learning.
Over 75% of students were actively involved in
their learning process.
More than 63% of the total population of
pupils acquired and / or exceded the expected
level of communication skills.
Impact:
Impact: A School That Improves and Grows
School No. 254, Montecarlo, Misiones participated
for four years in the Step by Step program. Their
teachers were trained in key areas for improvement
and innovation of education, including strategies for
the development of critical thinking and evaluation
of students.
Also, the institution received books and varied
educational materials along with resources to
improve the work environment.
The school achieved progressively a high
recognition and valuation by the community,
resulting in a growing demand for openings in the
program.
Faced with this reality, its director managed the
construction of three new classrooms.
Ultimately, the school grew both in quality and
coverage of the community.
30
Building Reading spaces in Patagonia
Thanks to the support of Importadora y Exportadora
de la Patagonia S.A during 2007, the Open Book
Project was implemented in 45 educational
institutions in Viedma, Ushuaia, Rio Grande, and
Calafate, benefiting 5,859 children. In each of the
schools, reading spaces fitted with more than two
hundred books of children's literature were created..
Schools lead the way to bring reading closer to
children and youth, and sought to give it a more
relevant place in the daily life of families.
“We deeply enjoy the Reading Corner. Children
attend it every moment, even during the breaks, and
they recommend books to each other. I have
students with discipline problems who turned into
more avid readers: they borrow and return books;
they are the owners of the Corner. Beyond the work
that each librarian may do separately , the work of
Fundación Leer at a national level means we are fully
enjoying the revaluation of reading.’’
Mónica Coman, Librarian. School Nº 3 “Monseñor
Fagnano” , Ushuaia.
“At the opening of the Reading Corner, there were
so many parents in the school. It was beautiful; it
was a great move. The children were fascinated with
the customs(…). The adults laughed as if they were
children .The kids were really involved. A secondgrade child stood up in front of the Reading Corner
and said, “Oh, this is wonderful!’’ What the children
took home is priceless.. The teaching team worked
and got involved. The radio and television were
here.’’
Ana Lía Mendoza, librarian. School Nº 9
“Comandante Luis Piedra Buena” , Ushuaia.
School N°5 – Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la Patagonia
Provincial School N° 73 "Lago Argentino”- Calafate. Santa Cruz
S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la Patagonia
Provincial School N°9 – Comandante Luis Piedra Buena–
Río Grande, Tierra del Fuego
S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la Patagonia
31
Development of Life Skills in Public Schools
The Prepared to Live Program in Santa Fe
With the support of Chevron Argentina, ten
institutions from Río Gallegos in the province of
Santa Cruz implemented, for the third consecutive
year, the Prepared For Life program, reaching 2,294
children from second cycle.
With the support of Fundación Acindar, this program
was implemented for the second consecutive year in
three educational institutions in the province of
Santa Fe. At the end of the implementation period,
encouraging results in children with relation to the
central themes of the program were seen :
Today, teachers say that their students have learned
to know and value themselves, respect the views of
their peers, seek solutions through non-violent ways
to many of the problems they face every day, and
take more enthusiastic attitudes toward learning. In
turn, they and their families, have begun to value
education as a tool for the future and in particular
recognize the importance of reading.
“Prepared For Life allowed us to work the link among
children because violence is a very strong issue. In
many groups , the individual relationships among
children improved. Besides, this program helped us
to know our students more personally and to have a
better and closer realtionship with them inside and
outside the classroom.”
Headmistress, Escuela N°78
“I really loved working with the program. It was
great fun and we learned a lot about how to
communicate among st ourselves”.
Student of 5° year, Primary School. School N°41.
100% of the benefiting children said the
program helped them reach an agreement and
improve communication with their peers.
100% of the children showed an attitude of
greater respect for themselves and for others.
80% of the children improved their ability to
express their feelings and opinions strongly.
80% of the children developed a positive
attitude toward education regarding the
possibility of personal growth and future job
opportunities.
75% of the children identified themselves as
readers and increased their frequency of
reading visits.
The Prepared For Life program intends to
contribute to the development of essential skills
for the development of children in different areas
of life such as family, education, and the world of
work.
To this end, this program offers a collection of
twenty projects to work in the classroom in an
innovative and attractive way, integrating
literature with various modes of expression.
Among the central themes self-knowledge, selfesteem, interpersonal communication, the value
of education, respect for differences, and
teamwork are included.
Escuela N°62 – Río Gallegos, Santa Cruz
Chevron Argentina S.R.L.
32
Teachers Training for Educational Improvement
With the support of Siderca S.A.I.C, Fundación Leer
developed in Campana , province of Buenos Aires ,
an initiative in which the Open Book Project and
Reading Corners in Community Centres programs
were integrated together with a cycle of teachers
training by specialists of the foundation .
Through the teacher training – which focused on the
strategies and approaches to reading in the
classroom – Fundación Leer proposed itself to
contribute to the improvement of pedagocical
practices. The call received a very good response
from more than a hundred teachers from various
institutions.
"It's good that these workshops are organized
because teachers do not always have access by our
own means. The training is a crucial weapon to fight
for more frequent reading in children and adults."
Teacher of Kindergarden 910
“The inauguration of our Reading Corner was a very
important moment for all of us, being the end of the
building work in which we invested much effort,
time, and devotion.”
Coordinator of Encouraging Society
Also, thanks to this initiative, 180 children from a
local kindergarden and a community center
benefited from the building of reading spaces and
the distribution of more than 1,600 books .
"We were surprised and evaluated as highly positive
the high degree of participation obtained in the
training workshops for teachers, librarians, and
teachers back in schools. The workshops were
planned for four schools with the endorsement of
Campana District Inspection and Fundación Leer, but
we extended the invitation to the 30 elementary
schools in Campana and achieved a participation of
nearly 100 teachers. Actually, working together to
Fundación Leer is a great experience and we hope to
continue working in this direction. "
Encouraging Society/Campana, Province of Buenos Aires Siderca
S.A.I.C.
Silvana Bergonzi, coordinator and analyst of Socail
Development of Tenaris Siderca S.A.I.C.
33
Literacy Programs
Institutions
in
Community
Reading Spaces in Hospitals:
Hospitals: Reading as a
Strategy to Promote Health
Thanks to the support of the Mapfre Foundation, the
Reading Corners Program in Hospitals and Health
Centers was implemented at Children's Hospital Dr.
Ricardo Gutierrez in the city of Buenos Aires . Thus,
today this prestigious and popular institution has
devoted one of its waiting rooms as a space for
children and their families to approach reading.
From the perspective of health professionals – who
were trained to lead the program – the reading
space that was created contributes to the promotion
of the integral health of the children. The reading
and dialogue generated in this space help the
children to express their suffering, communicate
their doubts, and enjoy moments of relaxation which
help them to overcome their illnesses.
During 2007, a group of coroporative volunteers
from the Mapfre Foundation regularly visited the
hospital to read with the children, enriching the
project and putting the Reading Corner to a great
use.
Hospital Gutierrez – City of Buenos Aires
Mapfre Foundation
“In the Reading Corner of the waiting room, some
children read on their own, some ask us to read for
them, and there are those who ask their mothers to
read to them .The impact is immediate: they sit very
close to those who read, they get angry with their
mothers when it is their turn to be checked by the
doctor, they start talking about the books they have
in their homes, comment about their experiences
with the stories they have read, and narrate them
through drawings . The older kids do a silent
reading..They seem to be very happy and marveled
by the stories.
Belén, professional attending Psicopedagogy Service
34
Reading and Writing in Penitentiary Units
The Canadian Embassy in Argentina supported once
again Fundación Leer with the implementation of
the project to improve the socio-educative abilities
of young adults in penitentiary units of the province
of Buenos Aires and improving opportunities for
access to quality education for children in areas of
high social risk.
The proposal allowed the creation of reading spaces
in two penitentiary units that receive young adultsin Ezeiza and Marcos Paz, as well as the delivery of
teaching materials spefically ellaborated for the
detained young people aimed at four schools which
required improving their literacy spaces.
The program included as a central element the
training of the personnel of the detention units
offering them strategies, resources, and materials to
coordinate creative writing workshops for the young
adults.
Thus, it was possible that the 452 beneficiaries –
young people in a situation of social conflict – began
to participate in a positive circle, finding spaces for
reading and self-expression, and helping to improve
the learning environments of other institutions.
Today, as an extra value, these two centers have
incorporated the meetings with the young people in
reading spaces and the organization of workshops
for verbal communication serves as an alternative
pathway to violence.
Text written by young participants in the project
35
Coordinated Efforts That Boost Results
With the support of Aluar Aluminio Argentino
S.A.I.C. together with the coordination of the
Secretary of Education of Puerto Madryn, Province of
Chubut, the Strengthening Early Literacy Centers
Program was given continuity in seven Centers of
Child Development and four homes in the city.
Within this program, teachers in charge of the
centers are trained to create literacy environments
in their institutions, to promote literacy from
infancy, and integrate families to this task .
Reaching over 1,400 children up to the age of five in
2007, more than 500 parents, 84 teachers, 70
educational community promoters, and more than
1,500 books distributed to children to take
home, the program focused on strengthening the
joint work between educational promoters and
parents.
“The program has allowed us to vindicate reading
within the educational context of the institution. It
has promoted the participation and commitment of
teachers and parents in the development and
implementation of the workshops. It has
strengthened the channels of communication and
links between institution and families.
Intersectoral Commitment
The work done by Fundación Leer in Puerto
Madryn was supported and conducted in
coordination with the Secretary of Education of
this city.
To this the support, Aluar Aluminio Argentino
SAIC was added, a company with a strong
presence in the area.
The combination of efforts helped create a
synergy and give concrete responses to the needs
of a community.
“For our institution, the work developed along the
program was very profitable.The organization of
workshops with the families was very productive.
There was considerable interest from the families,
expressing their doubts and concerns on the
subject as well as giving their own experiences
regarding reading. "
Educational Promoter, CDI N° 3 “Abracadabra”
Educational Promoter, CDI N° 4 “Pichi Ñekum”
Pueblo Nuevo Centre – El Dorado, Misiones
Help Argentina
36
Early Literacy in a Network of Community
Centers
With the support of the UPS Foundation, the The
Importance of Reading program was implemented in
a network of seven community centers in Moreno,
Province of Buenos Aires. Thus, Fundación Leer
aimed at responding to a vulnerable population with
strong needs in regard to attention and education in
early childhood.
Key aspects of the project were training those
responsible for the network on issues related to
language development and literacy for preschool
children, creating reading spaces with the
distribution of more than 4,200 new books of
children's literature, and working with families to
provide concrete strategies to implement in their
homes.
As a result of this initiative, which had strong
support from the local municipality, over 1,200
children and their families had several opportunities
to get closer to the world of reading, speech, and
literature, as well as the benefits that they bring to
their integral development and subsequent
performance in the school system.
Centre Casita Feliz – Moreno, Buenos aires
JPMorganChase Foundation
“The program has changed the mentality of the
educational team as never before had we asked for
anything from parents and, now, since we ask for
their cooperation in the program, we have proven
that they can bring their grain of sand. In fact, we are
fixing the metal roof that leaks and the wiring that
runs through the campus center. "
Coordinator of the community center La casita
Woman Home – Moreno, Buenos aires
UPS Foundation
37
Moreno, 14th November, 2007
Fundación Leer
Lic. Marcela Sisto:
With this letter, we wish to thank you for the work we cooperated on this last year, and with the completion of the
“La importancia de leer (Care To Read)” projects, we wish to express our satisfaction for having carried out this
joint experience
The path we have run together has joined us in the task of contributing to the strengthening of infancy
development in Moreno, Province of Buenos Aires; the road on which we have been able to build a link enriches
us and fills us with joy. On this path, we have formed with you a relationship based on respect and
responsability.
Also ,we wish to extend this thank you to whomever has coordinated this project and Ana de Santiago for her
permanent willingness and kindness.
With the conviction that access to literature, culture, and books is an undeniable and vital right for mankind,
sharing this year's work with you has been an invaluable experience which gratifies us in two way: first, because
it constitutes an opportunity to enrich infancy development and second, for the confidence and the trust
Fundación Leer has in this municipality.
With no other particular issue and hoping that our roads meet again, we bid farewell to you.
Sincerely,
Patricia Giovagnola
Chief of Child Ventures
Undersecretary for Social Action
Municipality of Moreno
38
5th National Reading Marathon
5th Annual National Reading Marathon
Campaign
For the fifth consecutive year, Fundació
Fundación Leer
organized the National Reading Marathon
Campaign, an initiative for the free participation of
all institutions – schools, community centers,
hospitals, clubs, among others – that choose to
enroll.
The campaign takes place during one day and
suggests that children and young people discover –
along with their families and other community
members – the pleasure of reading, that they get
interested in it and gradually incorporate it into their
lives.
The Marathon, which is not competitive, advocates
the implementation of all sorts of activities around
reading such as storytelling, shared readings
between parents and children, plays, activities in
squares and other public spaces, readings in homes
for the elderly, community diners, and prisons,
among other possibilities.
The 5th Marathon took place on October 5th, 2007
and was a real success, with figures of the its
participation that demonstrate its massive, national
presence. It was attended by :
7,859 institutions in 23 provinces and the City of
Buenos Aires
2,367,931 children
159,622 adults
The National Ministry of Science and Technology, 18
different provinces, and the Government of Buenos
Aires City have declared it of educational interest.
40
To Create Reading Spaces
Schools participating in the 5th Marathon had access
to a raffle of 80 libraries - "Reading Corners" equipped with 200 books donated by individuals,
publishers, and other foundations. The winners, as
well as having access to the books, received advice
to build their own spaces for reading and organize
different activities for their promotion in them.
The Marathon on the Internet
The enrollment in the Marathon was entirely
done through the foundation’s website
(www.leer.org.ar). During the year, the site was
also used to provide visitors with different
resources such as the guide for its organization,
promotional posters, forms, and other proposals .
We also started a blog for the Marathon, proving
a new way to communicate and create synergy
around this event.
Through simple instructions that encouraged
participants to share opinions, experiences, and
information, the blog took life and, little by little,
it filled with messages from executives, teachers,
librarians, and community leaders from different
parts of the country .
Initiative in Alliance
Under the National Reading Marathon campaign,
Fundación Leer developed a series of actions in
alliance with other organizations and companies:
Cycle of wokshops at bookstores. With the
support of the Argentinian Chamber of Books,
the cycle Veni que te cuento (Come that I tell
you) was organized. This included four reading
workshops in bookstores in the city of Buenos
Aires, directed to children and their families.
The proposal allowed the audience to be
present at a cultural event key to the city .
The Marathon on television. The TV show Foro
21 TV (Channel 7, Saturdays at 9.30a.m), which
is dedicated to educational issues, added the
introduction of mini-shows to the Marathon
aimed at the promotion of reading, the
invitation to perform activities with families,
and the later organization of a raffle with prizes
for children and teachers.
Materials and Initiatives for
Dissemination
Children Magazine Billiken accompanied every
publishing from March to October 2007 with
children stories and proposals to promote the
Marathon.
Intercole Magazine disclosed short stories
written by children from different schools to
share among those who looked for alternative
reading material.
The humorist Nik designed a poster to promote
the campaign that starred his popular charcater
Gaturro. In its three versions, this
communicational piece was incorporated into
the 5th. Marathon website, where everyone
interested could access to it. Fundación Leer
thanks Nik for his support through such a
valuable material
41
The Marathon on Public Roads
The Marathon in the Media
With the support of a group of companies engaged
in the campaign, the 5th Marathon was displayed in
posters and ads in the streets of Buenos Aires and
major cities in the interior of the country
With the effort of our communications team, the
work of "correspondents" and "ambassadors" of
Fundación Leer – volunteers who specifically
committed themselves to work on spreading
awareness about the Marathon – and the good will
of the national and local media, the 5th Marathon
had a presence on television, radio, print, and digital
media.
We are especially grateful to : Atento Argentina,
Banco Galicia, Banco Comafi, Cámara Argentina del
Libro, Chevron Argentina, Supermercados La
Anónima (S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la
Patagonia), Banco Santander Río, Embajada de los
Estados Unidos de América en Argentina, Sparkling Culligan Argentina S.A; Tecpetrol, TotalGaz
Argentina S.A, Siderca S.A.I.C; Dow Química
Argentina S.A, HSBC Argentina Holding S.A, Casa
Matriz Argentina, El Federal - Infomedia
Producciones S.A, TGS Transportadora de Gas del Sur
S.A, Banco Hipotecario S.A, Syncromind, Energía &
Soluciones S.A, Fundación Noble, Foro 21, Fundación
Diario La Nación, Asociación de Diarios del Interior
de la Rep. Argentina, Asociación Civil Contenidos medios y sociedad, Spinazzola Vía Pública,
Publiaceras, Mediaview y Publicidad Sarmiento S.A.
At the Marathon web site, you can find the main
articles that were published.
(http://maraton.leer.org).
October 6th, 2007 – Diario La Nación
October 6th, 2007 – Diario Clarín
42
OUR VOLUNTEERS PROGRAM
Fundació
Fundación Leer’
Leer’s Volunteers Program
Corporate Volunteers Program
Fundación Leer has a number of programs and
initiatives based on
Corporate Volunteer
participation. Working jointly with companies,
employee groups volunteer to perform different
tasks aimed at helping to promote reading in their
communities.
Corporate Volunteers provide Fundación Leer with
well-organized human resources motivated to offer
their time, experience, and skills to those in need. At
the same time, companies find this participation an
effective as well as efficient means to channel their
activities regarding Corporate Social Responsibility.
During 2007, many activities were performed in the
framework of Corporate Volunteer Programs:
From Sparkling - Culligan Argentina S.A.,
S.A. a group of
volunteers contributed to the performance of the 5th
National Book Marathon. They made personal calls
from their Call Center inviting schools all over the
country to take part in the event. These volunteers
also worked in the recording of children’s stories
which were later distributed among different
institutions, and published on the Fundación’s
website. The company allowed the use of its
warehouse to receive and organize all donated books
for distribution.
From Western Union Financial Service, Inc.,
Inc. a
volunteer group attended a Corporate Volunteer
Workshop at which they manufactured different
types of hand-made educational material that are
essential for children’s learning process.
44
A volunteer group from Fundació
Fundación Mapfre
participated in the Reading Corners in Hospitals
project, attending City of Buenos Aires Children’s
Hospital Dr. Ricardo Gutierrez on a regular basis for
reading and other motivational activities.
Kindergarden Jardín de Infantes Nucleado N° 3 in
the City of Buenos Aires was chosen by a volunteer
group from Ultramar Argentina S.A. to benefit from
volunteer activities, making several visits during the
year in order to share reading and other activities
with children.
From Standard & Poor's,
Poor's a team was trained by
Fundación Leer specialists and participated in the
recording of children’s stories, which were published
on our website, and also distributed among schools
beneficiaries of reading promotion programs.
“I can say that I never thought something so
small could give me something so great. I would like
to repeat this experience. I feel that it is just one
hour of our time for us, but it is a window to the
world for the children. I am very happy to have
participated. Not every company takes the time to
think of these important things. I am glad that the
company I work for does.”
Diego Díaz,
Argentina S.A.
volunteer
from
Ultramar
InIn-House and HomeHome-Based Volunteers
Fundación Leer receives the support of volunteers
who offer their time and work performing
operational duties within the Fundación’s premises
or from home. Volunteers belong to the Fundación’s
team and receive guidance from people within the
organization who advise them in the performance of
their tasks.
“I believe that I was selected by Fundación Leer
when I approached it, and was allowed to fill a space
that had already been designed for people willing to
commit to literacy as a life-long process.
I may sound redundant, but children’s hugs, the look
on their faces expecting you to continue reading, are
some of the images that I will keep in my memory,
images that I want to find every time I share reading
with children or adults.
At present, there are 40 volunteers performing
administrative work, making phone calls for
programs follow-up, helping with filing assignments,
and translating, among other activities.
I have also found a reward in my peers, other
volunteers who transmit their enthusiasm, energy,
and faith in what they do.
Team Work. The Experience of Creating a
Reading Corner
A powerful strength is created when a group of
people get together having faith in what they are
doing.”
During 2007, volunteers jointly with Fundación
Leer’s team, and thanks to Mrs. Mariel Morita’s and
her family’s support, participated in the creation of a
reading corner in a Buenos Aires home for girls called
Hogar de Niñas Misericordia, where 150 boarder girls
live and attend school.
Brenda Cena, Fundación Leer’s volunteer
The team worked fitting out the room intended as a
reading corner, and prepared a puppet show for the
opening.
Today, thanks to the support of an individual donor,
and our volunteers’ job, Hogar de Niñas Misericordia
has more than 300 new children’s books together
with a charming reading room for the students’ use.
Fundación’s Team and volunteers
45
Our Supporters
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
Paula Aniasi
Pedro Luis Barcia
Rodolfo Barili
Adela Basch
Ana María Bovo
Berta Braslavsky
Federico Braun
María Freixas de Braun
Martha Buckley, Embajada de los Estados Unidos en
la Argentina
Canela
Gustavo Canevaro
Milva Castelini
Alberto Colinas
Alan Crawford
Pablo De Santis
Ana María Díaz
Horacio Diez
Cristian Dzwonik - NIK
Jorge Esponda
Omar Fajardo
María Inés Falconi
Gonzalo Fonseca
Isabel Friz
Alberto García Hamilton
Alfredo van Gelderen
Pablo Gianella
Carmen Grillo
Patricio Guitart
Jorge Jacobson
Gerardo Gustavo Kabbache
Gustavo Koniczer
Federico Krum
Jorge Labanca
Rafael Manzano Torrá
Domingo Marra
Ricardo Mariño
Francisco Mármol
48
Alejandra Marsilla
Tomás Eloy Martínez
Claudia Marsó
Fabiana Mejalelaty
Mariel Morita
Norberto Morita
José Mostany
Santiago Murtagh
Santiago Murman
Ana Natino
Florencia Nizzoli
Angélica Ocampo
Carlos Pla
Patricia Pedrini
Cristina Pérez
José Pochat
Iván Racedo
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
Jorge Stheson
Jaime Subirá
Juan Carlos Tedesco
Charles Temple
Flavia Tomaello
Mariano C. Tomatis
Esteban Valentino
Felipe Videla
Valeria Vivani
Martín Wullich
Víctor Zapiola
Noris Zerdá
2007 Supporting Companies, Associations,
and Institutions
ABN AMRO Bank N.V.
ADIRA - Asociación de Diarios del Interior de la Rep. Arg
Alcoa C.S.I. Argentina
Aluar Aluminio Argentino S.A.I.C.
Apache Energía Argentina S.R.L.
Asociación Civil Contenidos medios y sociedad
Asociación de Bancos de la Argentina
Atento Argentina
Avianca
Banco Comafi
Banco Galicia
Banco Hipotecario
Banco Santander Río
Bea Foundation
Cámara Argentina de Publicaciones
Cámara Argentina del Libro
Cámara de Comercio de los Estados Unidos (AMCHAM)
Casa Matriz Argentina
Chevron Argentina
CISSAB
Citibank, N.A.
Claridge Hotel
Coolmedia S.A.
Diario Clarín
Diario La Nación
Dow Argentina
Eastman Chemical Argentina S.R.L.
Editorial de Comunicaciones Públicas (Very Important
People)
Editorial Sudamericana S.A.
Elba Ediciones de Rubén J. Sotera
Embajada de Canadá en Argentina
Embajada de Finlandia
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América en Argentina
Embajada de Nueva Zelandia
Embajada de Suiza
EMPower – The Emerging Markets Foundation
Energía & Soluciones S.A.
ESSO Petrolera Argentina S.R.L - ExxonMobil
Estancia La Martina S.A.
Foro 21
Fundación Acindar
Fundación Alcoa
Fundación Andreani
Fundación BBVA Banco Francés
Fundación Danone
Fundación Diario La Nación
Fundación El Libro
Fundación Emprendimientos Rurales Los Grobo
Fundación Hermanos Agustín y Enrique Rocca
Fundación Mapfre
Fundación Navarro Viola
Fundación Noble
Fundación Perez Companc
Fundación Santa María
Fundación Telefónica de Argentina
FutureBrand Argentina
HelpArgentina - Grupo MBA IMD
Hotel Presidente S.A. Buenos Aires
HSBC Argentina Holding S.A.
IBM Argentina S.A.
Integral Pack Express S.A.
JPMorganChase Bank
JPMorganChase Foundation
La Imprenta Wingord S.A.
Los Petersen Cocineros
Malba – Fundación Costantini
Mediaview
Minera Alumbrera Limited
Monsanto Argentina S.A.I.C.
Monsanto Fund
OCA Organización Coordinadora Argentina S.A.
Open Institute of Development
Open Society Institute
Pan American Energy
PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Publiaceras
Publicidad Sarmiento S.A.
Reading Is Fundamental, Inc.
Revista Billiken
Revista El Federal - Infomedia Producciones S.A.
Rousselot Argentina S.A.
S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la Patagonia
San Enrique Petrolera S.A.
49
2007 Supporting Companies,
Companies,
Associations,
Associations, and Institutions,
Institutions, cont.
cont.
Sessa Editores
Siderca S.A.I.C.
Siemens S.A.
Sparkling - Culligan Argentina S.A.
Spinazzola Vía Pública
Standard & Poor´s
Sugar & Spice S.R.L.
Symnetics Argentina
Syncromind
Tecpetrol
Telefe Noticias
Tenaris Siat
Tener S.A.
TGS Transportadora de Gas del Sur S.A.
The Resource Foundation
The Tinker Foundation Inc.
Tito González S.A.C. y F.
Tito Scuticchio - Disc Jockey
TotalGaz S.A.
Toyota Argentina S.A.
UBS Optimus Foundation
Ultramar Argentina S.A.
UPS de Argentina S.A.
UPS Foundation
Very Important People
Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund
Western Union Financial Services Argentina
Western Union Foundation
50
Contributions by Individuals
Adelina Siri
Alejandro Maddalena
Alejandro y Castalie Martínez de Hoz
Andy y Toya Sibbald
Ángel José Uribe y Mariana
Ann Spangler
Arturo Santillán y Susana Braun de Santillán
Carlos Alberto Pla
Carlos Etcheverrigaray
Carlos y Antonia Miguens
Carlos y Gloria Casares
Cecilia Fonolla
Cleo Bolen
Constanza Ferro
Cristina y Adolfo Lago
Chantal Badín
David y Lucrecia Lacroze
Eduardo Jorge Gnecco y Marilyn Jones Williams de
Gnecco
Eduardo Zorraquín y Rosario Peralta Ramos
Elías Mejalelaty y Matilde N.A. de Mejalelaty
Elías Mejalelaty in memoria de José Mejalelaty
Elías Mejalelaty in memoria de Rosa Acher
Elías Mejalelaty in memoria María Elena Maisano de Pla
Federico y María Freixas Braun
Félix de Barrio
Fernando y Carmen Polledo
Galia Grosse
Guillermo Merino
Hernán Grosse
Horacio Reyser
Ignacio González García
Inés y Jorge Matarazzo
Jack y Jane Rivkin
Jaime Alejandro Donaldson
Javier Dorrego
Jeanette Wickelgrer
Contributions by Individuals, cont.
Jimena Zuñiga
John Schlund
Jorge y María Zorreguieta
José Prieto
Larry Edwards
Luciana Nuñez
Lucila de Cohen
Luis Alberto Erize y Mónica Vallarino Gancia de
Erize
Maite y Emilio Lavallol
María Elvira Cosentino de Darch y Steven Darch
Mariel y Norberto Morita
Martha Harriet
Matías Zaldarriaga
Michael Eccleston
Michael Faulkner
Michel Piche
Milen Marinov
Mónica Leguizamón
Patricia V. Mejalelaty y Claudio Saladino
Patricio Carlos Perkins y Roxana
Peter y Roxana Davenport
Rafael y Lourdes Soler
Raúl Curutchet y Marcela Pizarro
Raúl Lautaro Pizarro Posse
Rebeca I. de Mejalelaty
Ricardo Siri y María Estrada de Siri
Rick Whisler
Robert Mumford
Roberto y Joan Facht
Sandra Vann
Santiago Dellepiane
Santiago Murtagh
Sol Arjol
Susana Baltake
Teresa Bulgheroni
Vicente Gonzalo y Alicia Massot
Virginia y Luis Masjuan
Contributions by Supplier Publishing
Companies
Aique Grupo Editor S.A.
Ediciones Colihue S.R.L.
Ediciones de la Flor S.R.L.
Ediciones del Eclipse
Ediciones SM Argentina
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.
Grupo Santillana Argentina
Kapelusz Editora S.A. Grupo Norma
Puerto de Palos S.A. - Casa de Ediciones
Scholastic Argentina S.R.L.
InIn-Kind Contributions and Donations in
2007
A.D.I.R.A. (Asociación de Diarios del Interior de la
República Argentina)
A.R.B.I.A. Asociación de Radiodifusoras Privadas de
Argentina
A.R.P.A. (Asociación de Radiodifusoras Privadas de
Argentina)
A.T.V.C. Asociación Argentina de Televisión por
Cable
Aique Grupo Editor/ Laurosse
Alejandro Rufo
Asociación Civil Contenidos - medios y sociedad
Atento Argentina
Cámara Argentina del Libro
Canon Argentina S.A.
Casa Matriz
CCI (Cámara de Cableoperadores del Interior)
51
2007 InIn-Kind Contributions, cont.
Colegio Universitario IES
CoolMedia
Comando Antártico de Ejército
Cristian Paterson
Diario Clarín
Diario de Cuyo
Diario de Madryn
Diario El Heraldo
Diario La Gaceta de Tucumán
Diario La Mañana de Bolivar
Diario La Nación
Diario La Opinión
Diario La República de Corrientes
Diario Nuevo Diario (Sgo. Del Estero)
Diario Primera Fuente (Tucumán)
DyN - Agencia de Diarios y Noticias
Ediciones Colihue S.R.L.
Ediciones de la Flor S.R.L.
Ediciones del Eclipse
Ediciones SM S.A.
Editorial Albatros S.A.C.I.
Editorial Andrés Bello Argentina S.A.
Editorial Guadal S.A.
Editorial Santillana
Editorial Sigmar S.A.C.I.
Editorial Sudamericana
Elba Ediciones de Ruben J. Sotera
Energía y Soluciones
Escribanía Esponda
Esteban Valentino
Estudio Labanca & Asociados
Félix de Barrio
Flia. Mejalelaty
Fundación Andreani
Fundación BBVA Banco Francés
Fundación Diario La Nación
Fundación El Libro
Fundación Loma Negra
Fundación Noble
Fundación Schcolink
FutureBrand Argentina
Grupo Santillana Argentina
52
Help Argentina
HSBC Argentina Hodings S.A.
Integral Express
Kapelusz Editora S.A.
La Anónima (S.A. Importadora y Exportadora de la
Patagonia)
La Guía Vip
La Imprenta Wingord
Librería San Luis S.R.L.
Los Petersen Cocineros
Malba - Fundación Costantini
María Inés Falconi
Martín Wullich
Mediaview
NIK
OCA
Pablo de Santis
Plásticos Clauser S.R.L.
Publiaceras
Puerto de Palos S.A. - Casa de Ediciones
Revista Billiken
Revista El Federal
Revista Enfoques Positivos
Revista IDEA
Revista Intercole
Revista Saber
Sarmiento Publicidad Exterior
Scholastic Argentina S.R.L.
Sparkling-U.S. Filter Argentina S.A.
Spinazzola Vía Pública
Sugar & Spice
Symnetics Argentina
Syncromind
Tener S.A.
Telefe Noticias
Total Austral S.A.
Transporte Avelli
Transporte La Sevillanita
Ultramar Argentina S.A.
UPS de Argentina
Xerox Argentina I.C.S.A. y Docucax S.A.
Resources and Their Application
Application of Resources
In 2007, Fundación Leer in the performance of its mission made its programs available to 213,866
children and youth who were given 199,442 new books; this was possible due to the support and
contributions made by local as well as foreign associations, individuals, entities, and private
companies with a strong commitment to education and the future of our children and youth.
Allocation of income is described below:
OR DINAR Y R E S OUR CE S
$
$
Auspic e s a nd Dona tions
Currency
2,849,496
In K ind
1,083,479
S ubtota l
Othe r De posits
Net F inancial R es ults
S ubtota l
Tota l
3,932,975
244.727
244,727
4,177,702
P rogram E xpens es
Adminis trative E xpens es
Tota l
3,797,269
71,404
3,868,673
The fiscal year showed a surplus of ARS 255,339.- from which amount ARS 53,690.- are discounted
as current depreciations.
After the fiscal year closing, Fundación Leer’s activities have been performed normally, and there
are no significant matters to be mentioned.
54
Prospects
The 2008 calendar year comes with great prospects
for Fundación Leer. On the one hand, we will
complete our strategic plan for the next five years,
integrating everything we have learned with new
challenges.
On the other hand, we will forward the goal to
strengthen our internal capabilities and offer highquality initiatives to all community actors
interacting with our organization on a daily basis.
We are committed to consolidate our reading
promotion programs, focusing especially on the
improvement of contents, training opportunities,
and counseling to institutions.
We are determined to provide information about
concept frameworks and upgraded strategies that
help improve literacy processes leading to the
education quality improvement.
Neighborhood Center Pueblo Nuevo – El Dorado, Misiones
Help Argentina
We will also integrate all IT resources that may
contribute to reach more extensive needs,
accomplish more efficient processes, achieve our
goals while keeping human contact and warmth
toward our partners and other people taking part in
every initiative.
Finally, we will continue in our effort to give books
to children and their families as a means to fulfill
our mission.
Board of Directors
April, 2008
Neighborhood Center Pueblo Nuevo – El Dorado, Misiones
Help Argentina
55
Fundació
Fundación Leer
Registry Number in the Inspección General de Justicia: C – 1.632.257/97
General Summary Balance
from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2007
AS S E TS
31.12.07
31.12.06
L IAB IL ITIE S
$
CUR R E NT
L IAB IL ITIE S
S avings &
B anking
605.172
235.664
Inves tment
2.778.559
2.554.252
Tota l of
Curre nt Asse ts
172.297
3.556.028
NON-CUR R E NT
AS S E TS
56
31.12.06
$
CUR R E NT
AS S E TS
Credit
31.12.07
163.091 Debts
2.953.007 P rovis ions
F unds for s pecific
purpos es
Credit
Inves tment
Goods in us e
Tota l of noncurre nt a sse ts
11.192
226.911
108.933
Tota l of Asse ts
3.903.064
347.036
Tota l of
10.879 L ia b ilitie s
219.505
153.214
383.598 NE T E QUITY
Tota l of
L ia b ilitie s a nd
3.336.605 Ne t E quity
100.467
71.962
140.322
292.315
597.807
163.199
838.596
527.476
3.064.468
2.809.129
3.903.064
3.336.605
Fundació
Fundación Leer
Registry Number in the Inspección General de Justicia:
C – 1.632.257/97
Summary of State of Resources and Expenses
For the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2007
Presented in comparison to the previous fiscal year
OR DINAR Y R E S UL T S
12.31.07
12.31.06
$
R e sou rc e s
Donations and Aus pic es R ec eived in C urrenc y
2.849.496
2.661.606
1.083.479
750.702
0
3.932.975
10.000
3.422.308
-71.404
-3.797.269
-53.690
-3.922.363
-69.325
-3.085.224
-56.592
-3.211.141
Net F inanc ial R es ults and Holdings
244.727
196.979
E nd F isc a l Ye a r S u rp lu s
255.339
408.146
Donations and Aus pic es R ec eived In K ind
As s es ment, Didac tic Material P reparation, and
Teac her Training
Total of R es ourc es
E x p e n se s
General Adminis tration
E duc ational P rograms
Deprec iation of Us ed Goods
Total of E xpens es
Fundación Leer’s accounts are audited annually by PricewaterhousCoopers, who on Apr
18, 2008, issued their unqualified report about the balance closing on Dec 31, 2008.
To obtain a complete copy of the report, please write to: Executive Direcotr, Fundación
Leer, Av. Cerviño 4407/17 1° Piso (C1425AHB), Buenos Aires.
57