Baseline research has been carried out in 8 project schools on children's health and nutritional status and academic achievement, as well as teacher's ability to use active teaching techniques. Research is being used as a benchmark to demonstrate results of STS activities over time.
Eight schools received 4,000 new and used textbooks, mostly in the French language and mathematics, with the help of partner organization "Partage Queébec Guinée." With these books, teachers are now able to depart from whole class instruction to use more effective teaching stategies such as group work and reading corners.
Local education and health leaders have received training in participatory community mobilization strategies such as problem trees and community mapping. Leaders are now using these techniques with community members to help them identify health problems and possible solutions in their communities.
School children have been corresponding with new friends from other schools, exchanging photographs and telling stories about their lives. Students are excited when they use these letters as texts for learning about reading, writing, and life in different parts of Guinea. This year, pen-pal relationships have been expanded to include elementary school children in the U.S.
With support from Alcoa Aluminum, STS is expanding into 8 addtional schools and communities where the company is conducting mining operations. Participating schools will benefit from teacher training in the use of health education modules designed to cultivate life-skills such as positive self-concept, decision-making and resisting peer pressure.
All 16 schools and communities with whom STS is working are planning health projects to be supported with their own in-kind contributions with the help of small grants. Communities will design and implement projects such as school gardens, water tank construction and community clean-up campaigns. All projects are designed to improve children's health and nutritional status so they can succeed in school.