The vision of solidarity of Robert Allan Reed, general director of the Colegio Americano, was the impetus that began an enriching activity for our students in 1982: sharing their knowledge with people who had not had the opportunity to study. This was the beginning of the Literacy Center.

In 1985, the Child Care Center was created so that the adults could attend classes while their children were cared for.

Throughout the last 24 years the fifth course students from the Colegio Americano have participated in the literacy program: they have been the teachers at the primary level and since the year 2000, they have also taught at the junior high level.

The adults who attend the center live in neighborhoods such as Prosperina, Mapasingue, Pascuales, Flor de Bastión, and Guasmo.

Our objectives
Our objectives are: to incorporate the youth and adults into the world of culture through the basic tools of reading and writing: to put processes of reflection and analysis of human rights and values into practice, while strengthening the concepts of gender, peace and democracy: and to fortify the spirit of solidarity and social work.

How we are organized...


Literacy Brigade
The students are registered from first grade of primary school up to ninth grade. We have 15 classrooms for giving classes. The teachers (fifth course students from the Colegio Americano) teach Language and Math up until second grade. After that they also teach three more subjects: Social Studies, Natural Science and English.


Nutrition Brigade
At the beginning of the present school year the Nutrition Brigade was created so that the literacy students could learn how to eat an adequate and economical diet. The student – teachers also teach their students the nutritional properties of each food group, how to store foods properly and how to use correct hygiene with foods in order to avoid illnesses.

This Brigade prepares nutritious snacks for the adults in order to demonstrate their teachings in practice.

Child Care Brigade
The child care brigade works with children from 6 months to 7 years of age. They work – depending on the children’s ages - in the areas of early stimulation, preparation for reading and writing and reinforcing Language and Math.

The children receive breakfast and lunch during the day.

The adults attend classes on Saturdays from 8:00 until 12:30.

Training and Permanent Evaluation
Throughout the school year the student – teachers are trained on Saturdays after they finish teaching their classes. The students are evaluated based on the criteria of the MEC (Ministry of Education and Culture) and of the International Baccalaureate CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) program.

Public Activities

Year 2000
First Encounter of Literacy Brigades “Father José Gómez Izquierdo”.  Government authorities were invited and a network of Literacy Brigades in Guayas was formed. Teaching at the junior high level began in this year.