Storyteller Actress Kristin Pedemonti PA Belize

Once upon a time, not so long ago in 2005, Kristin decided to go on a journey and begin a new adventure. And so she sold her home and most of her possessions to fund volunteering in Belize, Central America. She founded Literacy Outreach Belize and now divides her time between New York City and Belize. While in Belize, Kristin travels village to village and school to school donating storytelling and story-writing programs while also preserving indigenous culture. Thus far she has donated programs for 30,000 children at 125 schools and provided training for 500 teachers.

In the US Kristin performs at libraries, schools, storytelling festivals, and special events, for children of all ages. Ms. Pedemonti combines storytelling and theatre to create educational, entertaining, and multicultural performances. Her goal is to build bridges between cultures through story. The entire audience "gets into the act" and helps to tell the stories using simple costumes and dialogue.

Traveling Story Hour now available in New York City. Focuses on the 6 Early Literacy Skills which prepare children in learning to read. (Click for more info!)

Ms. Pedemonti also performs Internationally:

“Kristin jumped straight in and wowed all of our students. She was both able to gauge the age of the students as well as the language ability of our mostly non native English speaking student body. Her stories had us excited, interested and totally involved. She truly shared her enthusiasm for stories and their unquestionable value in our society!” ~ Marianne Freire, International School, Paris France.

"Kristin is a breath of fresh air. She brightens the room with her energy. The children simply love her." Rose Bradley, Ministry of Education, Belize

Since January 2006, Kristin has donated literacy programs for more than

30,000 children throughout Belize!

Carla, teacher at St. Joseph Primary in Belize City has this to say:

I am a teacher for more than ten years at St. Joseph Primary School in Belize City and I have known Ms. Kristin ever since she came to Belize. She is a storytelling expert and she has really influenced me as a teacher. She is vibrant, motivated and has a very pleasant personality when dealing with children... I was lucky to
have been chosen by her to tell stories to my class and the children and I have
always enjoyed it. I am a very motivated teacher myself and just listening to
her made me even more enthusiastic about teaching and especially with telling
stories to my children. ~Carla Graniel

Great things are happening with Literacy Outreach Belize:

January 12 to January 29, 2010

Over 2000 students at 4 schools received FREE storytelling and Story writing programs to help them prepare for the National Exam.

Nearly 500 books distributed to 3 schools benefitting over 2000 students - thanks to Allison Rooteveel and Marlborough Elementary School in PA

February 24 to March 25, 2009:

2156 students at 6 schools received FREE storytelling and story-writing programs

Expansion to Immaculate Conception Primary School in Bullet Tree Falls village

Collection of 200+ stories written by Belizean students

Positive meeting with President of National Institute of Culture and History

Belize Story Writing Project: Kristin provided storytelling and story-

writing workshops for nearly 8,000 students and 200 teachers January-

March 2008.

Guest Lecture: St. John's College January 2008

2006-2007 Literacy Outreach: Kristin provided programs for over 20,000

children at 120 schools, daycares and preschools throughout Belize.

National Library Service Staff Training March 2006. Kristin

presented workshops on Dynamic Children's Programming and Storytelling

Techniques. (32 libraries in all) National Library Service Library Tour: presented programs for 14 Village libraries From Gales Point down to Barranco.

Books 4 Belize: collected and distributed books to

libraries and schools throughout Belize. Kiwanis Club of Emmaus, PA

donated $100 worth of books in December 2005. Neff's UCC Church in

Neff's PA donated $500 of new books to the cause July 2006. Friends and family have donated over 2000 books thus far.

Where I am From Poetry Project with Muffles College, Belmopan

Comprehensive School and Upper Perk Middle School in East Greenville,

PA. Over 200 students wrote poems based on George Ella Lyons "Where I

am From" poem. The poems were exchanged between the Belizean and

American students.

Kristin collaborated with the University of Belize and presented Teacher Training

for several at-risk schools.