Since 2006, the Aprender y Crecer program has centered on providing school supplies and basic resources to allow children at public schools to have a better educational experience. Now in its 20th anniversary year, we pull the curtain back on perhaps the program’s most valuable resource: its people.
From the very beginning, Aprender y Crecer provided more than just donations. A program coordinator accompanies each participating school to make sure the donations are being utilized in the best way, and that teachers are supported in their work in the classroom. What started with a single coordinator when Aprender y Crecer was a nameless pilot program has grown into a team of nearly 40 professionals in 7 countries.
“Working alongside people with unwavering commitment and enormous hearts is a privilege,” remarked Adriana Badilla, Associate Director – Aprender y Crecer for PriceSmart. “These are people who truly believe they can change the world one child, one teacher, and one school at a time; and they put that belief into action, every single day.”
Most program coordinators are not teachers by trade. They come from a multitude of backgrounds including law, psychology, business administration, and journalism to name a few. They have received substantial professional development not only about the building blocks of literacy and strategies for teaching them in the classroom, but also how to effectively communicate this knowledge to teachers.
“For me it is a privilege to be part of the Aprender y Crecer team,” remarked Margarita Ruiz, program coordinator in Colombia. “This experience has been enriched by the meaningful moments shared with teachers, families, and students, and it has left a deep impression on my life. Every story, every challenge, and every achievement has strengthened my commitment to education and allowed me to grow both as a professional and as a person.”
Teachers at schools receiving this support from program coordinators are 44-100% more likely to engage in key reading-related practices compared to schools that did not have this support1. This not only confirms the profound value of role of the program coordinator, it also demonstrates that schools with this personal support read more. This is of critical importance, as increased reading is closely linked to stronger literacy skills, higher academic achievement, and years of schooling attained2.
Coordinator support doesn’t only lead to more reading at a school, it also leads to more regular use of the eyeglasses that Aprender y Crecer has provided to thousands of students since 2021. Getting a pair of glasses to a child is an incredible first step, but making sure they are wearing those glasses is indispensable in assuring they are getting the enormous benefits of vision correction.
As Aprender y Crecer celebrates 20 years of impact, its success is measured not only in the supplies, books, and eyeglasses delivered, but in the people who help transform those resources into lasting outcomes. Program coordinators are the vital link between support and results—guiding teachers, encouraging students, and ensuring that every investment reaches its full potential.
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1 Internal study, 2025.
2 Burgess, S. R., & Lonigan, C. J. (1998). Early reading skills and later reading proficiency: A longitudinal study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(3), 527-539; Chevalier, A., & O'Sullivan, V. (2007). The impact of reading on earnings and educational attainment. Oxford Economic Papers, 59(4), 748-768.
