The gift of literacy

Reading, writing, and 'rithmetic. Those are the traditional "3 Rs" of schooling. We believe education needs to encompass much more, but we agree on one point: Reading is a priority.

Reading is a simple option that opens up many opportunities for the reader: To learn more about whatever subject you wish; to be inspired by the lives of people who have achieved what others said was impossible; to get new ideas from the myriad ways that societies have structured themselves; and to have an alternative to your cellphone if you're feeling bored.

Literacy is a tremendous bargain. In our schools, nearly all children are reading in kindergarten or first grade. Our main tools: Two simple black-and-white books, teachers with basic training about how to use them, and hundreds more books that are fun and appealing, with a big selection for every reading level. (In public schools this is rare. Even by grade five, only half of children can read a simple Lao text.)

Sponsorships make these books possible. Thank you! Children are not merely learning how to read; they are developing the habit of reading, and an enjoyment of reading. There is no better gift you could give them.

And schools provide the place for it to happen. After they are built, our schools are self-supporting, because parents pay a modest tuition. But the initial construction can happen only with support from donors. Thank you to everyone who has contributed toward a school.

Thank you, as well, to those who make general "unrestricted" donations, for us to use as we feel best. Often, these also go toward book printing and school construction. Sometimes they make special projects feasible. This support made it possible for us to spend a year developing a sign language curriculum. Children enjoy learning to talk with their hands; many studies have found that sign language helps small children develop other language skills; and it reduces the isolation of deaf people. We also use unrestricted donations to develop and produce the games and activities that make our schools exciting and fun. They pay for occasional travel, so our teachers and staff can visit other schools both in and outside of our network to exchange ideas.