Articles

Andrea Osborne-Smith, program manager for EDC’s education initiative in Indonesia recently returned from Aceh, the remote region ravaged in the tsunami of 2004. Andrea was there to train kindergarten teachers to use EDC’s interactive audio programs. The lessons, developed with local educators, weave songs and stories into literacy and numeracy instruction. She spoke with us from her office in Jakarta.

Where do teachers find good material for geography, science, and social studies lessons? National Geographic is often a first choice. The venerable magazine has a trove of materials available online—from lesson plans to printer-friendly maps to interactive games and activities. When it was time for National Geographic to update its educational Web sites, the media company turned to EDC’s Center for Children and Technology.

Attacks on civilians, torture, the use of child soldiers or biological weapons—all are prohibited in war. But not everyone is familiar with the international humanitarian laws that govern armed conflict. To introduce students to the concepts and content of these rules, EDC and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) developed the Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) program.

At a community center in Bangkok, small-business owners are logging on to the Internet for the first time, using Microsoft Word, Excel spreadsheets, and other business software. These local entrepreneurs—including fruit sellers, garment makers, and artisans—are learning their technology skills courtesy of the multinational computer firm Hewlett Packard (HP).

For the third time in as many years, the Bush administration has visited an EDC program overseas. In June, during her multi-nation trip to Africa, First Lady Laura Bush visited two EDC projects, meeting with students and teachers who use EDC radio programs for basic education, life skills, HIV/AIDS prevention, and teacher training. Mrs. Bush, accompanied by her daughter, Jenna, visited schools in Zambia and Mali that use the EDC-created programs. The work is funded by USAID through President Bush’s Africa Education Initiative.

Unemployment and HIV and AIDS have converged in Africa to create economic and social havoc. The population of young people 15–24 is growing, jobs are scarce, and HIV and AIDS are rampant.

Preschoolers in West Virginia are reaping the benefits of an EDC program that offers professional development and mentoring to their teachers.

For the thousands of foreign workers employed as domestics in countries around the world, jobs often carry unanticipated dangers. Recruited by international agents who promise lucrative jobs in exchange for a large fee, these workers often discoverthat legal protections from exploitation or abuse are all but nonexistent. With no recourse, some are forced into virtual slavery or resort to crime and prostitution to survive.

Many Colombian parents must choose between sending their children to school and keeping them home to help support the family coffee-growing business. Many decide that school is not worth the cost in time and money. A recent EDC forum brought together corporate, public, and private representatives who identified a variety of innovative solutions.

The last time Inez had a head cold, she reached for three different remedies—a nasal decongestant, something for her sore throat, and a syrup for her cough. In her quest for relief, she failed to notice that all three contained acetaminophen, and each featured a warning about the dangers of multiple doses of the drug.

What does it take to turnaround an “underperforming” district? This question becomes more urgent every day as the number of districts earning this designation grows—and the consequences get tougher.

For EDC’s Barbara Miller, “turnaround partner” for the Winchendon (Massachusetts) Public Schools, the answer begins with some hard thinking about where an outside advisor like herself can have the biggest impact quickly.

Most of us can remember that one adult—a teacher, parent, or neighbor—who made our transition from adolescence into adulthood a little easier. But for young people in the juvenile justice or foster care system, finding adults who can provide ongoing support and understand the unique challenges these youth face can be a difficult and sometimes impossible task. And while numerous agencies help connect young people to mentors, very few are equipped to assist these at-risk youth, leaving many without the guidance they so desperately need.

Over the past 25 years, the number of school-age children in the U.S. who speak a language other than English at home has increased from 3.8 to 9.9 million. These students often lag behind their peers academically and schools are struggling to find ways to increase their level of achievement. The challenges in mathematics class are especially difficult.

From dropout to vagrant to teen mother, 19-year-old Manoucheka Lizaire’s life quickly unraveled as she followed a path familiar to girls living in poverty. In Haiti alone, thousands of teens are like Manoucheka—out of school and living on the streets, in domestic servitude, or with families too poor to provide them with an education.