Step by Step: AGFI’s Solution to Learning Poverty
Step by Step is a local government unit-based approach developed by Adarna Group Foundation, Inc. (AGFI) to create communities of young readers across the Philippines.
In 2021, the Foundation saw and harnessed its potential to be one of the solutions to the 90% learning poverty rate among the Filipino youth. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Bank reported that 9 out of 10 ten-year-old children lack the ability to read and understand a simple text¹.
Commitment
Step by Step is committed to preparing young Filipino learners for reading and learning before formal education. It strives to develop their habit of reading and love for books, starting from the first 1000 days of life until graduation from daycare. In line with this, its mission is to equip rural health unit staff, child development workers, parents, and other members of the community with various early learning and early reading interventions and materials.
Programs
Step by Step has five early literacy programs that are designed to adapt and integrate with the existing projects, systems, and resources of a local government unit. Whether as a standalone or as an interconnected set, these programs include reading materials, learning tools, learning sessions, and monitoring and evaluation. They are as follows:
1. Unang Isang Libong Araw, which capacitates rural health unit staff with the knowledge and skills to teach pregnant women and parents of children up to two years old about health, nutrition, and early stimulation.
2. Unang Aklat, which partners with health care delivery systems and staff to promote early literacy among parents and introduce children aged zero to three years old to books.
3. Read sa RHU, which trains rural health unit staff on early literacy and effective storytelling, as well as provides developmentally-appropriate reading materials to children who visit the health care facility.
4. Mahilig Kaming Magbasa, which encourages early reading practices within communities through training of child development workers and implementation of reading camp sessions.
5. Handang Magbasa, which provides child development workers and parents the necessary capabilities to enhance the reading readiness skills of children up to four years old.
Current Reach and Future Aim
To date, Step by Step has partnered with 12 local government units and organizations, trained 140+ rural health unit staff and child development workers, and reached 4,862+ parents and children. It has also distributed 19,600+ reading materials.
The first two programs, Unang Isang Libong Araw and Unang Aklat, are being implemented in Samal, Bataan. Through a Step by Step partnership with LBC Hari ng Padala Foundation, Inc., both are capacitating healthcare workers and families in Anao and San Clemente,Tarlac as well. The collaboration is likewise administering Handang Magbasa and supporting child development workers, parents, and students in Anao and San Clemente, Tarlac and nine daycare centers under Kagabay Foundation.
AGFI aims to bring Step by Step to more communities and reach more learning partners and Filipino children—one step at a time.
Reference
[1] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization & World Bank. (2021). Philippines - Learning Poverty Brief - 2021 (English). Learning Poverty Brief Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/972851624613012971/Philippines-Learning-Poverty-Brief-2021