Abako Foundation

Abako Foundation remains dedicated to improving literacy levels at four schools in Koutiala Mali However political unrest has hindered our ability to visit schools and train teachers and staff locally Despite these challenges teachers persevere under difficult conditions and Abako continues to support them by providing vibrant library spaces filled with books and practical resources In 2025 Abako traveled to Senegal to train staff and acquire books and materials for our only active school library Looking ahead to 2026 we aim to open three additional libraries if circumstances permit Abako is committed to fostering literacy development in public and community elementary schools Over the past year we have equipped the library with new materials hosted a childrens day celebration and plan to further honor teachers contributions in 2026

This pilot Childhood Education project supports mothers caretakers and children ages 0-3 Our goal is to guide and accompany mothers as they introduce their children to their first words in both Mayan and Spanish Mothers become primary language teachers by creating visual materials in both languages They draw simple vocabulary words in 5-7 domains and engage their children as language experts in a natural context-driven way Abako offers teacher training parent workshops drawing notebooks colored pencils classroom furniture and other necessary supplies Abako staff regularly visit the project sites to monitor progress and provide ongoing teacher training

Our three-year partnership with the Karunodaya Foundation in Gaya India continued to flourish in 2025 During two visits to India in 2025 we forged important collaborations to support the 29 schools participating in the Literacy and Library Program launched by Abako in 2022 Abako sponsored a Teachers Day celebration visited 15 school sites led a week-long capacity-building workshop for the 15-member staff and held library sessions in five schools working closely with Karunodaya staff and local teachers We also purchased and delivered stationery and sports equipment for all program schools Additionally Abako visited a new Karunodaya initiative in 11 small villages near Gaya aimed at helping young women complete their education and develop leadership skills While this project is still in the exploratory phase we have already provided materials and equipment to support the staff In 2026 Abako plans to deepen our involvement in this promising new initiative

The Reading Program second and final year benefited 300 middle school students Its purpose was to foster a culture of reading for both pleasure and academic growth while teaching strategies to enhance reading comprehension The program sought to raise literacy awareness by establishing a school library providing book and teaching material donations organizing writing contests and conducting regular Abako visits to monitor progress and ensure the library remained an open welcoming space for the entire school community

This small writing project in a middle school in Cuernavaca Mexico aims at improving basic writing skills The 241 students work with a book that target discrete writing skills from sentence structure to paragraph formation and organization These students have demonstrated strong reading skills but now they need to transfer all the knowledge into writing their thoughts and ideas Abako provides books and paper materials for the project implementation

Each year this project honors teachers for their outstanding performance throughout the school year Abako sponsored a one-day recreational retreat for 70 teachers and four teacher assistants on the outskirts of Bangalore India The group visited an ecological park where they relaxed reconnected with each other and nature and showcased their talents in a planned talent show The day was filled with laughter goodwill community building and heartfelt recognition for the tireless work these teachers do daily for 750 low-income students

Abako remains an ally to schools that have participated in our two-year literacy or reading programs Maintaining an active role in supporting reading initiatives beyond Abako direct involvement is essential for program longevity To this end Abako continues to provide books and teaching materials to schools guided by regular progress reports

The Reading Program second and final year benefited 250 middle school students Its purpose was to foster a culture of reading for both pleasure and academic growth while teaching strategies to enhance reading comprehension The program sought to raise literacy awareness by establishing a school library providing book and teaching material donations organizing writing contests and conducting regular Abako visits to monitor progress and ensure the library remained an open welcoming space for the entire school community

The Reading Program second and final year benefited 300 middle school students Its purpose was to foster a culture of reading for both pleasure and academic growth while teaching strategies to enhance reading comprehension The program sought to raise literacy awareness by establishing a school library providing book and teaching material donations organizing writing contests and conducting regular Abako visits to monitor progress and ensure the library remained an open welcoming space for the entire school community

This small project in a [individual] in the highlands of Guerrero Mexico aims to improve basic reading and writing skills through a discrete-teaching approach that targets specific foundational areas The 63 students have been given books and materials to implement the project goals

This recent Abako initiative supports a community of 40 women who have been abandoned by their families and stigmatized by society Abako provides monthly physical care offering small but meaningful comforts snacks blankets personal care items and soon carefully curated books While identifying literacy levels has proven challenging Abako is committed to collaborating with the community to ensure these women have access to reading and visual materials to enrich their free time

This small night school project in Cuernavaca Mexico targets basic literacy skills for students who for diverse reasons have dropped out of regular classrooms This night school serves about 50 students ages 14-37 who need to earn their high school diploma The project supplies books and learning materials so that teachers can focus on academic and emotional needs Abako intervention is discrete and temporary but we monitor progress as needed

In September 2025 Abako began collaborating with a rural middle school in Acanceh Mexico where a dedicated librarian launched a reading club with just six students The club has since expanded to 185 members and Abako has partnered with the school to provide additional books and sponsor writing contests The club now offers regular activities that encourage reading and writing both within the school and the wider community Abako looks forward to continuing this partnership throughout the year