By Yspaniola Team | Yspaniola Team
Over this reporting period, our Literacy for Dominican-Haitian Youth in the Batey program continued strengthening foundational reading and writing skills for children in a high-need context shaped by poverty, limited access to learning resources, and language barriers that can affect early literacy development. We remained focused on providing a safe, structured learning environment where students can build confidence, consistency, and measurable progress through instruction tailored to their levels.
A key highlight of this period was a strong literacy awareness campaign running throughout December and January, designed to elevate the importance of reading at home and in the community. Through consistent messaging and outreach, we encouraged families and caregivers to adopt simple literacy routines, celebrate children’s learning milestones, and reinforce school attendance and daily practice. This campaign helped strengthen visibility for the program, deepen community buy-in, and reinforce a shared commitment to literacy as a pathway to opportunity.
Program delivery continued through structured literacy activities, including phonological awareness, decoding, vocabulary building, and reading comprehension exercises. Facilitators used small-group instruction and guided reading approaches to support learners who are below grade level, with attention to students navigating bilingual realities in Dominican-Haitian communities. Ongoing observation and informal monitoring allowed us to adjust pacing and groupings to ensure that support is responsive and effective.
Importantly, we are continuing to scale and stabilize service delivery. We currently serve more than 150 children through our kindergarten, providing early literacy foundations at a critical developmental stage. This component has become a cornerstone of our strategy, helping children enter primary school with stronger readiness skills while also creating a consistent routine for families and caregivers.
Next, we will sustain the momentum generated by the December-January campaign by deepening family engagement, strengthening assessment-informed instruction, and expanding access to age-appropriate materials. Our priority remains clear: to ensure Dominican-Haitian children in the Batey develop the literacy skills they need to succeed in school and thrive beyond the classroom.
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