Asociación Amigos del Aprendizaje (ADA)
Educación y Alfabetización | Education & Literacy
About
Asociación Amigos del Aprendizaje (ADA) is a Costa Rican nonprofit working to improve the quality of public education by helping children read and write with purpose. Founded in 2000, ADA partners with the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) and private, philanthropic, and academic organizations to strengthen teaching practices and student learning. Through initiatives such as Mi Cuento Fantástico, ¡A CREAR!, and ProLEER, ADA builds educators’ capacity, promotes meaningful literacy experiences, and connects evidence-based practices with classrooms across Costa Rica.
Impact
179,000
Children Reached
1,400
Public Schools
Reached
8,400+
Teachers Supported
Programs
Mi Cuento Fantástico
Promotes reading and writing in public schools through a national story-writing initiative that encourages children to express their ideas creatively.
¡A CREAR!
Strengthens literacy through creative writing workbooks and teacher training designed to improve reading and writing practices in the classroom.
ProLEER
Connects academics, nonprofits, and education leaders across the U.S. and Latin America to advance evidence-based early literacy and learning.
Current Need
Expanding quality literacy education across Costa Rica is at the center of ADA’s long-term vision. Mi Cuento Fantástico aims to reach 100% of public schools by 2030, while ¡A CREAR! plans to serve more than 120 schools, 600 teachers, and 14,000 children annually. ProLEER will continue strengthening regional collaboration among education experts and decision-makers. ADA seeks individuals, foundations, and corporate partners committed to helping more children develop the reading and writing skills that support lifelong learning and opportunity.
Growing Stronger Every Year
We’re proud to participate in Amigos of Costa Rica’s Transparency Badge System, which evaluates organizations across three key areas: financial stewardship, governance, and community impact.
Organizations are recognized at four levels of growth: Seed, Sprout, Sapling, and Tree, helping donors better understand each organization’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
The badges displayed below reflect our current achievements and our ongoing commitment to strengthening our organization and maximizing our impact.
Finance
Governance
Impact
Ready to Join Our Mission?
Support this organization using the donation method that works best for you. Online giving is available through credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal, with additional options including wire transfers, stock gifts, checks, Zelle, and cryptocurrency donations.