Champions in Action

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ProLiteracy champions the power of literacy to improve the lives of adults and their families, communities, and societies. We envision a world in which everyone can read, write, compute, and use technology to lead healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Our international partners champion the power of literacy every day. One of our spotlight programs is MICA (micro credit in Africa), a non governmental organization devoted to alleviating poverty in Niger by educating and empowering women. Niger is estimated to be one of the poorest countries in the world with 61% of the population living on less than one dollar per day. Women comprise two-thirds of that population. The literacy statistics are just as sobering -only 28.7% of the population can read or write.

MICA is currently providing opportunities for 2,744 women to engage in commercial ventures through its women's literacy and micro enterprise programs as well as leadership workshops, AIDS education, job skill training, first aid training, and computer training. MICA's flagship program is its income-generating Oxcart Project that rents oxcarts to women who in turn rent their transportation services to people in the community.

Mrs. Diatta is the founder and director of MICA and recently won the Ann C. Michel Internationa Women in Literacy Award for her work in Niger. "During our program we teach on health by educating women and the whole community about HIV/AIDS, and early pregnancy for young girls. We also educate women about their right for election as women in the society. The micro-credit initiative helps give women economic freedom." Examples of projects may include sewing, cooperatives, reforestation, health centers, livestock and farming.

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