Global Literacy Matters

ProLiteracy in El Salvador Lynn Curtis and I recently spent 10 days in El Salvador working on a pilot project with FINCA, a micro finance bank that provides poverty solutions through small business loans. This project, sponsored by the Citi Foundation, focuses on improving small businesses through literacy lessons, business coaching, networking among village bank members, and community action. With us were Dean Curtis, Lynn's brother, who led the business training part of our visit, and John Hatch, founder of FINCA, International. Forty-six leaders took part in the business training. They were excited to learn how to lead group discussions and problem solve with other village bank members. Instead of feeling depressed about the economy and lack of jobs, people started recognizing social problems in their communities that affect their businesses and families such as crime, gang violence, garbage/pollution, poor access to the main streets, and flooding. Immediately they started plan

Day 4 Ngororero is the project site where IFLI partner Umuhuza has been working to strengthen families. We met with 15 trained practitioners to hear their successes and struggles with the project. We met with local officials to hear their impressions of the work. We visited several homes to hear from parents how the program has benefited them. Yesterday, we celebrated with 100 families who have completed the parent training sessions. Umuhuza chose to go to remote Ngororero with the IFLI early learning curriculum because the first genocidal massacres took place in this region back in the 1950s. Umuhuza is an agency focused on creating a culture of peace in Rwanda. They believe that the IFLI curriculum is a way to create peace within families that can then have a bigger effect on society. We heard many testimonies from parents, practitioners and local officials about the reduction in domestic violence.

Thursday, May 27, 2010 We left India on a high note, after meeting with the core team on Saturday to reflect on the training, review the evaluation forms and processes and to discuss issues and concerns, resources and next steps. A strong image came forward that day about the state of the Potali Project. It is like a tree whose seed has been planted and has grown into a sapling. There are many people who are watching this young plant and helping it to mature into a strong adult tree. We named this widening circle of support including 1100 participant families, 40 plus practitioners and supervisors, the core team and international team, three partner agencies, global stakeholders and many volunteers who share the value of strengthening families. We asked the question of what this tree will look like in its mature state. The branches of the vision include: 1) expanded program delivery; 2) staff development model; 3) international networking; 4) revenues from sales of Potali materi