Annual report 2011

“An educated people is a free people” Paulo Freire

Another year passed by allowing us to support more children and adolescents with new or further improved project offers. Thanks a lot to you all who joined us in believing in a more socially just world.

Marco Nyffeler

EDUCATION – Guided homework : A place to learn and play

For the school year 2011/2012 we divided our tutoring program and placed each of the 48 children currently attending our program in one of the two groups according to her/his personal needs, depending on his/her age, cognitive development and skills. With this new approach, we are able to invest more time in discussing and checking homework, which has a positive effect on the children’s sense of responsibility for their work.
One classroom is set up for children from 3rd to 7th grade. The younger children from kindergarten to 3rd grade do their work in a second classroom. A new area for reading and math skills as well as play was established this year.

In addition to our homework/tutoring program we organize off-campus therapies, which help the child in his/her learning process and as  a result fewer one-on-one Saturday tutoring sessions are needed.

RECREATION – Vacation program: Learning by playing

Approximately 150 children and teenagers participated this summer in our vacation program. Fifteen youths from the neighborhood were actively involved as activity and group leaders. In order to become a group leader they had to take a course offered by the municipal government with 300 other youths hailing from the south of Quito. Through this course they gained insights into their own potential and personal interests and promoted the work of the Foundation.

The group leaders were responsible for organizing and leading the entire two week vacation program. Due to the group leaders’ great commitment, the vacation program was a huge success.

RECREATION – Youth project „Zona adolescente“:The future is now
Within the Foundation, the youth group is a familiar and welcoming place for the youths to meet and discover their own potential. Here they can plan and realize projects, organize trips or just play games and have a good time. The group identifies itself with the Foundation and they have become actively involved members of the Foundation!

NUTRITION – School lunch: Alimentation and success in learning
Nutritional deficits negatively affect cognitive and school performance. With our new school lunch program we want to ensure that each child gets to eat at least one sufficient and balanced meal per day.

The school lunch is meant for children from the lowest income families, who are often neglected and, in some cases, suffer from psychological and/or physical abuse.

28 children attend our school lunch program, but all the children attending the tutoring program receive a healthy snack before they go home. In 2011 we started offering the children, who are home alone over their lunch break, to bring their lunch to the Foundation and eat with us. The staff warms up their meal and they can enjoy their lunch with their friends and classmates.

HEALTH – Family support:  Finding a path towards personal responsibility
We have changed our approach from family aid to family support.

We aim to support parents in the process of realizing their role of caring and responsible parenting.
Important parts of achieving this goal can be helping parents understand the benefits of a good education and helping them with the first steps into the educational system. Or sharing with them how important healthy and intact senses are for learning and, for example, help the family to get necessary corrective eye surgery for their child.

Thanks to the support of the Rotary Club Quito Colonial, we can provide free medical services for the children and teenagers, such as a dentist check- up, when necessary. At the Foundation, we instruct and demonstrate the importance of simple hygienic measures like washing hands and brushing teeth, which we hope become a  part of everyday family  life for the children.

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Alba Cisneros: Coordinator Recreation y Nutrition

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Rosa Quinte: Coordinator Education

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Valeria Guaman: Coordinator Health

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Also you can download the annual report  in PDF