[Guinea-list] Fwd: Holiday greetings from School-to-School International

[Erin Carlson]

Friends of Guinea may be interested in learning more about the group below-

Erin Carlson
RPCV Guinea, 2005-2007

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <info at sts-international.org>
Date: Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 2:44 PM
Subject: Holiday greetings from School-to-School International
To:


   Dear friends of School-to-School International,

2008 has been quite a year. In the US, it has been one of new political
possibilities and, at the same time, unprecedented economic uncertainty. For
many people in developing countries, it was yet another year of increasing
difficulty. In Guinea, for example, wages continued to fall, and the price
of food and fuel continued to rise. In October, life became so unbearable
that many courageous people took to the streets. Sadly, they were met by the
military who, as has happened over the last several years, stopped them,
arrested some and killed others.

Through all of this, STS has continued to support schools and commuinities
throughout coastal Guinea. Now in our 6th year there, we were able to
accomplish the following in 2008:

   - *provide small grants *to 8 communities to build wells and latrines and
   acquire medical kits for their schools,
   - *chip away at dangerous myths *about malaria and HIV/AIDS by training
   200 teachers to help 10,000 kids learn about hand washing, avoid sexual
   predators, and identify the causes of major diseases,
   - *improve kids' math scores by 10% *by training teachers in active
   instructional techniques to address kids' biggest problems in math, and
   - *open the world to 150 students *in the US and Guinea who now know one
   another through pen pal exchanges.

 In 2009, STS will continue to make children's educational futures a little
brighter in Guinea. With support from Metropolitan Learning Center in
Portland,Oregon and the Alcoa Foundation in Guinea, we will be reinforcing
our work in 24 schools while expanding to 8 new ones. We will also be
rebuilding the school pictured at the right and providing reading materials
and training so that children remain enthusiastic about learning, even when
conditions aren't ideal.


As you enter this holiday season and the New Year, you are probably thinking
about how to make the world a better place, even while you are trying to make
ends meet.
A school that STS is rebuilding
in Guinea [image: Photo of aA school that STS is rebuilding in Guinea] A
contribution to STS <http://sts-international.org/donate.html> is one
powerful way to do this: with a modest donation of just $50, you can provide
reading materials for children in Grades 1 and 2, or provide training for
more teachers, or contribute to building wells or latrines in schools that
have never had them before.

Most importantly, your support can be a sign to our friends in Guinea that
someone cares about them, and that their children's future is brighter
because of your help.

If you would like additional information about our work, or ways in which
you can help, please go to ourwebsite at www.sts-international.org.

On behalf of our friends and colleagues in Guinea and throughout the world,
STS would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season.

Sincerely,

Dr. Mark Lynd, President and Founder

School-to-School International
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