Annual Activities Report 2024

Acrivity Report 2024

“On the way to school, On the way to life”

 

Dear Friends,
We are proud to share that in 2024 we continued to provide scholarships, educational opportunities, and school infrastructures to children in need in Morocco, Burkina Faso, Italy, and Cambodia.  We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our volunteers who contribute time and skills to help maintain our overhead costs to a minimum, and which are covered entirely by our capital, so that 100% of all donations received go directly to our projects on location.

We are proud that all our beneficiaries in these countries are able to benefit from the highest standards of quality education, whether it is formal schools, supplementary classes, or non-formal education.  We ensure that all our programs and projects provide underprivileged children access to free quality education, healthy nutrition, and basic health care, and we support the education of children from primary school to professional school and university, so that every graduating student can ultimately successfully compete for the best jobs in the workplace in their field of choice and thereby break their family’s intergenerational cycle of poverty.  Every day we are moved by the stories of beneficiaries who surmounted tremendous challenges and succeeded in completing school and subsequently finding jobs, changing their destinies and those of their families, and serving as role models for younger siblings and youth in their communities and/or villages of origin.

These stories of success would not be possible without the help of those who are on this journey with us, supporting our work and hence amplifying our impact.

This year we have also expanded our social media presence and encourage supporters to follow our regular updates on our work on our IG, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages.  Reading and sharing our posts also represents a great way to help spread awareness on our work and on the realities of the living conditions of underprivileged children that, more often than not, never make it into mainstream media.
Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Elena Pistorio
Director, Pistorio Foundation

 

ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

The Pistorio Foundation is an apolotical and non-denominational non-profit organization.

Our mission is to improve the living conditions of children in need, with a focus on education, by providing long-term scholarships and building and improving school infrastructures and creating educational opportunities so that school drop-outs may be reinserted in the public education system.  Our projects are tailored to the needs of the children and families we serve, with a bottom-up approach, sensitive to the specificities of the local culture and to the socio-economic contexts.

 

OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS

• 19 years
• 6 countries
• Over 19,530 school years sponsored
• 704 students have completed professional school or university
• 55 school infrastructure, computer lab, and library projects completed

 

OUR APPROACH

We partner with exceptional and rigorously selected local NGOs, to provide holistic scholarship programs that allow children in need to access quality education as well as basic health care, sanitation, and nutrition in school.  Our students receive free nutritious meals in school as well as free medical check-ups, in addition to school supplies, books and uniforms.  Our teachers attend teacher training programs every year to improve teaching methods, and students are exposed to enriching extracurricular activities including sports activities and educational excursions to further enhance their school life experience. We emphasize the importance for our students to complete their entire schooling up until professional school or university so that they have the best chances of pursuing a career and break out of poverty and we guide and accompany them throughout their academic career to prevent drop outs and dispersion.

We believe that the school environment plays a major role in favoring learning, and children have the right to well equipped, safe, and adequate school infrastructure.  Hence, over the years, where necessary, we have built and renovated primary and secondary schools, kitchens and canteens, playgrounds, computer rooms, and libraries in schools of dozens of villages. These projects benefit many more indirect beneficiaries for generations than only those that are on scholarship, so that effectively we have reached many tens of thousands of children in the past 19 years.

We are convinced that quality education is not only a key and fundamental right of the child, but also a requirement for the development of underprivileged communities. We aim at lifting entire communities out of desperate conditions through education, as the younger generations find jobs and help their families break intergenerational cycles of poverty.  Our commitment to villages and regions where we operate is long-term, in order to maximize our impact towards the development of the communities we support, and accompany students and their families over time to witness effective and lasting change.

 

INTERVENTIONS AREAS

MOROCCO

Our project in Morocco began in 2010 with our local partner, Azrou Center for Community Development, in the province of Ifrane.  Our goal was to improve the outcomes of school dropouts aged 8 to 18, by giving them a second chance in non-formal education so that after two to three years they could be reinserted in the public school system or in professional school if they were older.  The program was rolled out by the Government, and the Azrou Center over the years became a reference point of excellence and model in Non Formal Education, with very high success rates in passing the primary exams and in reenrollment in the public system.

The success of the program is thanks to passion, commitment, and skill of our educators and staff on location.  Every year, in addition to solid learning of the academic curriculum, students are exposed to extra-curricular activities such as fields trips, sports competitions, theater, and cultural events, which for many are a novelty, providing opportunities for cultural growth, intellectual stimulation, and improvement of social skills.

As part of the curriculum, students are initiated in professional training classes of their choice, ranging from sewing, embroidery, and crochet, to pastry making, hairstyling, and electronics. In this way, older students who succeed in their final exam at the Non Formal Education program, are able to enter professional school, after which they are eligible for employment.  Younger students are readmitted to public school once they complete the NFE program. Nonetheless, we stay in touch with students even after they complete our program, to track their progress and provide guidance if necessary.

The Program runs year round in the school building built by the Foundation in 2011, consisting of classrooms, workshop rooms, canteen, kitchen, computer room, library, and sanitation facilities.

Each day, every student enjoys a nutritious meal in school, elaborated by a nutritionist.  As part of their yearly scholarships, students receive school supplies, uniforms, and medical check-ups.  During the year, they attend classes on life skills hygiene, sustainability, and self-defence.  The students can reach out to an onsite counselor if they wish.  Families of students, on given dates, receive food supplies, blankets, and clothes.

In 2024, 40 students attended regularly the program, with a nearly 80% pass rate and no drop outs, that is a 100% retention rate.  Moreover, 19 out of 20 students who completed Year 3 and were admitted to public secondary school or professional school. In addition, educators observed significant qualitative improvements, at the academic and socio-emotional level, including increase in focus, decrease in disruptive behaviors in school as well as at home, heightened interest and motivation in learning, growing engagement in class discussions and willingness to share their points of view, increased effort and initiative to enroll subsequently into vocational training centers, improvement in critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, and in identifying priorities and setting goals.

The staff of the Azrou center works alongside parents and families to monitor the progress of students and maximise opportunities for growth and development.

Throughout the years, Mohamed Lasry, our volunteer Country Manager, has closely supervised the project on location and, through his company Clean Energy, generously donated not only solar panels to the school, but also designed an entire Course for the Installation and Maintenance of Solar Panels for our Year 3 students. We are deeply grateful to Mohamed for his kind and valuable contributions, as well as to the entire school staff and local managers of the project for their dedication and hard work!

 

Impact since 2010

• 570 beneficiaries on scholarship
• over 620 school-years sponsored
• 1 school building and 1 computer room built
• 504 students have completed the NFE program
• 150 students have completed Professional School
• 290 students have been reinserted in the public school system or professional school

 

BURKINA FASO

 Burkina Faso continues to suffer from a severe socio-economic and political crisis, in large part due to the political instability caused by repeated jihadist attacks in many parts of the country since 2015, displacing over 2 million people, over half of which are children, and leading to the closure of thousands of schools in the northern and central part of the country. It is imperative that the work of NGOs in these desperate conditions be reinforced and assisted, to help safeguard children’s right to education, health, and protection.

Despite this dark scenario, the Foundation has been able to continue every year the extension of aid towards children in need in the region of Boulkiemdé, in south western Burkina, which has not been target of attacks thus far.

The Pistorio Foundation has been historically working in this region since 2006, funding school infrastructure and supporting the education, primary health care, and nutrition of hundreds of children, providing over 1000 school years.

Since 2022, the Foundation has partnered with Amref, to continue its mission aimed at the empowerment and development of villages, by focusing on education, through sustaining scholarships and school infrastructure, and making sure that every child on scholarship has access to primary health care and nutrition.  Each child has the potential to change his or her destiny and that of his or her family through education and thereby build a better future for the entire local community.

Our holistic approach entails making the school a village reference point for children and families, catering to the needs of the child in terms not only of schooling but also health and nutrition, and all the while educating families on the rights of the child and involving them in their children’s school life.  Hence, for example, in 2024 we have funded a kitchen and storage space for mothers to prepare meals for students on school days, as we have done with many schools in the past.

Mothers of students volunteer on a rotation basis to prepare the meals. The new kitchen built is in concrete, complies with all the safety standards, and is a stand-alone structure next to the school of about 4×4 meters.  Next to it is a similar structure for holding food supplies including rice, legumes, and oil.

Besides improving the health and academic results of children, receiving a meal in school helps contrast school drop-out rates and improves attendance rates, as families have an increased motivation to ensure their children’s attendance in school.

In addition to school supplies and meals in school, student scholarships also cover medical check-ups, uniforms, sports activities and field trips, and awareness raising campaigns amongst parents on children’s rights to education and importance of obtaining birth certificates for children. Parents can also access programs to learn agricultural techniques and literacy classes to apply for microfinancing programs to improve their incomes.  Parents and teachers are trained on hygiene and teachers are given teacher training classes to improve student outcomes.

Storage and Kitchen completed in Loaga School in 2024

Impact since 2006

• over 260 beneficiaries on scholarship

• over 1000 school years sponsored
• Infrastructure projects completed: Nibagdo Primary School expansion for 150 students; Sogpelce’ Secondary School for over 700 students; “Bridge Classroom” for out of school children; three primary school classrooms at Tanguin village; kitchen and storage in Loaga Primary School

 

CAMBODIA

In 20024, the Pistorio Foundation has focused on supporting once more the upgrading of the IT infrastructure of the schools of PSE.  During COVID, the Foundation supported the emergency project of creating e-learning platforms and distributing hardware to students and teachers to allow students to continue their studies during lockdown.  The project proved successful and quickly evolved after COVID resulting in increased use of IT equipment in the classroom and opportunities for distant learning and supplementary enrichment classes for students outside the classroom.

This year we decided to support another three-year project to modernize and upgrade 8 computer labs to benefit nearly 1800 students. These improvements ensure that students are exposed to the highest quality and most modern education. We are convinced that mastering digital skills is crucial to prepare youth for the professional world.  In 2024 the pilot test included equipping one of its computer labs with an eco-friendly vCloud replicators, a technology that allows the 30 screens in the room to be connected to a single central computer.  This has resulted in 54% decrease in energy consumption, enhanced teaching according, reduction in the number of software licences to buy, and reduction in IT maintenance requirements and spare parts renewal.  Following the successful pilot, eight additional labs will be equipped with vCloud replicators, 4 labs in 2025 and 4 in 2026.  During this time, IT teachers will receive training to effectively use and maximize the benefits of vCloud technology.

Since 2006, the Pistorio Foundation has been supporting over 250 long term scholarships, library and school infrastructure projects, and digital learning projects at PSE.

Impact since 2006

• over 250 scholarships
• 963 school years sponsored
• over 8100  direct beneficiaries of Library, School Building Infrastructure, and of E-learning projects
• 12 library/reading rooms, 1 new classroom, computer rooms and digital technology renovations and IT equipment for teachers and students, 1 supplementary school renovation
• 91 students have completed professional school

 

ITALY

In the heart of the degraded Librino district in Catania, the Foundation supports every year the afterschool supplementary education of 50 students aged 6 to 14 (for a total of 16 weekly hours) at the Talita Kum center.

The center represents a safe space and nurturing environment for children who would otherwise be on the streets afterschool and at risk of being involved in illicit work.  The center is also fundamental for their success in school, as they are followed by tutors in completing their school work, albeit making sure they complete it independently.  Children also learn essential life skills such as discipline, resilience, communication, and abidance to and respect of rules and regulations and of others.  The center offers a fixed structure to their daily schedules, allowing them to focus on the development of their full potential and on the activities that allow them to explore and expand their interests.

These children live in contexts of local violence and marginalization, and educational poverty in their public schools.  At Talita Kum they receive guidance, support, and intellectual and creative stimulation, through a plethora of relevant activities, from 3.30 to 6.30 pm, in the constant presence of peers, animators, and educators. The center maintains close relations with public school teachers and staff, families, and other NGOs, to create a support network in constant communication for the benefit of the children.

The center runs throughout the entire school year and during the summer, to avoid drop-outs in the school break and to subtract them from the streets when schools are closed for holidays.  Children enroll in the summer camp where they continue to be involved in a rich selection of indoor and outdoor group activities, ranging from field trips to sports, beach trips and gardening.  During the school year the main activities are homework tutoring, artistic workshops, sports, dance, cooking, IT skills building, robotics, storytelling, and theater, with performances for dance and theater held at the end of the year, and sports competitions.  These activities help develop children’s self-expression, creative abilities, and interpersonal and communication skills.

Children are able to maintain positive scores and attendance rates thanks to the stimulation and attention received at the center.  Educators and staff have evaluated the socio-emotional progress of children over the year, and over 90% of have shown improved attitude, concentration, cooperation, self-confidence and engagement. In addition, there has been a decrease in disruptive behavior in class and during outings, as well as at home according to parents.  Students have demonstrated an increase in willingness to learn and improved communication, planning, and problem-solving skills.

 Impact since 2019

350 afterschool non formal education years facilitated

Over 250 direct beneficiaries

 

PAST PROJECTS – THAILAND

2006-2023

For nearly two decades, the Foundation has contributed to the development of dozens villages in northern Thailand, providing scholarships to over 3400 children, sponsoring nearly 17,000 school years, and building nearly 40 infrastructure projects in remote villages. 470 children have obtained a professional school or university degree and are now working.  Our work has transformed the lives of thousands of children and their immediate families, and while dozens of villages have grown and developed, and we feel blessed to have been able to be part of their socio economic growth by providing free access to quality education to village children.

Impact 2006-2023

• over 3400beneficiaries on scholarship;
• over 16,900 school years sponsored
• 38 infrastructures projects completed: 3 Primary Schools, 3 Teacher Accommodations buildings, 1 Secondary School, 3 Kindergartens, 7 Dormitories, 3 Libraries, 3 Computer Rooms, 5 Preschools, 2 Playgrounds, 1 Arts & Music School Building, 3 Canteens, 3 Clean Water Systems, 1 Health Post
• 470 students have completed professional school or university

 

 

Foundation Board Members
Pasquale Pistorio	President
Giacomo del Grande
Carmelo Papa
Giovanna Bottani
Elena Pistorio
Operations
Elena Pistorio	Director
Raffaella Cartledge	Social Media Creator

Pistorio Foundation
Via Bice Cremagnani 15/7
20871 Vimercate (Milano),Italy
Email: contact@pistoriofoundation.org
www.pistoriofoundation.org