August Impact 2014

IMPACT

AUGUST 2014

OUTCOMES

RAISING THE EDUCATION BAR IN THE D.R.

“T

his kid is not worth the effort

one

are

because he won’t learn.”

Marginalizing statements like this

teachers and even dren

of

with

chillearn-

ing problems, said Altagracia

plateau.

Unbound staffers ... wanted to create a way to support the children who were falling behind.

Around

20 percent of 4,000 sponsored friends were

repeating

the same grade or had below-average scores.

Flores,

an Unbound staffer in the Dominican

Unbound staffers were worried and wanted to create a way to support the chil-

Republic.

These attitudes mainly stem from a Altagracia Flores

In 2007, education for many sponsored friends in the Dominican Republic hit a

often

heard coming from parents

learning problems in children, she said.

dren who were falling behind in school.

lack of knowledge and training to identify

(continued)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHES IN AUGUST!

Nothing inspires confidence like the feeling of being celebrated on your birthday. Many children and elders we work with had never experienced a birthday party in their honor until they were sponsored. You can send a donation for birthday celebrations with your next sponsorship contribution.

Unbound.org is getting a new look and improved functionality this month. We’re keeping all the things you love, while giving the site a new design and streamlining the navigation so everything is easier to find. Check out the changes and let us know what you think!

IMPACT

3 out of 4 Unbound sponsored youth worldwide reach or exceed education levels comparable to their national peer average

36% of sponsored youth in the D.R. exceed the average education level of their peer group by a year or more of schooling

62% of sponsored youth in the Dominican Republic reach the educational level of their peers

SOURCE: 2013 UNBOUND SURVEY

The guide teaches instructors how to create an equal learn-

(continued from front) They drafted an education guide that helped improve the

ing opportunity for all children. It has been especially helpful for

grades of sponsored children and gave educators techniques on

teachers whose classrooms have a mix of students, including

how to simultaneously teach different types of learners.

those with learning disabilities.

Many public schools in the Dominican Republic are using the

The teaching methods proposed were intended to cover

guide in their classrooms with sponsored and non-sponsored

from the first to fourth grades. However, some teachers from

children, affecting other students in the country to some extent.

fifth through seventh grades have also used the guide and have reported great results.

CREATING CHANGE Altagracia,

a

former

teacher,

was

in charge of leading the effort to help improve education among sponsored children. With a master’s degree in special education and 40 years of teaching experience, she was the perfect candidate

“Being able to use my talents to make an impact on so many lives is one of the things that makes me most proud.”

to lead the project.

— ALTAGRACIA

“Most teachers [in the Dominican Republic] do not receive any special for-

A+ WORTHY In 2007, around 20 percent of 4,000 sponsored children were repeating the same grade or had below-average grades.

The training guide was then implemented in classrooms, and Unbound staffers waited for the results.

By 2013, the project had grown to 7,000 sponsored children. Despite the

mation or training in the area of children with learning prob-

growth, the number of children who had problems in school

lems,” Altagracia said. “When I was still working as a teacher, I

was significantly lowered. The project reported only 11 percent

implemented some of the ideas and techniques I had learned,

of sponsored children had low grades or repeated grades.

and the results were very positive.”

Children entering the sponsorship program after 2007 with

Altagracia’s methods guided teachers on how to teach all children, those with learning disabilities and those without, to read and write and increase reading comprehension.

similar challenges were able to overcome learning problems.

The teaching methods were a success.

“Being able to use my talents to make an impact on so many

Altagracia and other Unbound staffers invited teachers to

lives is one of the things that makes me most proud,” Altagra-

review the guide and give their feedback before creating the

cia said. “I feel that at my age, I am able to really use what I’ve

final version.

learned over the years.”

Photos of sponsored friends in the Dominican Republic are displayed on a wall in the local Unbound office to inspire Altagracia.

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800.875.6564

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