ProLiteracy Helps Learners Write Love Letters in Colombia

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Pueblorico is a small town about three hours from Medellin nestled in the heart of the Colombia’s mountains. Its name—translated as “plentiful town”—comes from its lucrative mines...and its coffee. Its high mountain location is an ideal climate for cultivating coffee, and many people rely on the coffee farms for employment. Because employment is dictated by the harvest, there is usually only steady work for four months out of the year—from October to January.

ProLiteracy has been supporting literacy and micro enterprise projects in Pueblorico for more than 10 years. Alesha Anderson, international programs coordinator at ProLiteracy, visited Pueblorico in January. She visited an literacy class with 18 participants of all different ages—middle-aged and elderly men and women, young boys and girls and teenagers.

“Many of the learners expressed their gratitude for the literacy classes and shared how their improved literacy skills are benefitting their families,” says Anderson. “Two couples even attend class together, every night for three hours. This is particularly significant because in some rural communities in Colombia, the traditional belief is that women don’t need to receive an education.”

“My wife and I are learning together,” said one adult learner, Leonelio. “We are both in fifth grade and hope to finish our primary education. My favorite topic to learn about is math. I love numbers!”

Another adult learner, Paolo, laughed and said: “Now that my wife and I are learning to read and write, we can write each other love notes.” Paolo continued: “I work all day in the coffee fields and sometimes I come home and I’m so tired. But I always push myself to attend class at night. It’s very important for my wife and me to learn together. We help each other.”

Literacy classes in Pueblorico are reaching marginalized people who have had very little opportunity for education due to lack of resources or life circumstances. The chance to gain an education is bringing beauty and pride back to individuals and their families. Literacy is giving people a place to come together and enjoy learning new things.

Comments

  1. Summer PisciottaFebruary 22, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    What a great story and message to be heard. We sometimes underestimate the power of each other. Here are people who work long hours in coffee fields during the day and then come home to want to learn how to read and write. Fantastic! Their drive to learn together is contagious. Stories like this should be shared. It is amazing how many people will catch on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. dragon76February 24, 2011 at 1:04 AM

    Thank you for sharing such story of great service to humanity; unselfishness commitment with others. You do not hear these things happening globally. Some people take things for granted: education and family. While those who wish they had the opportunity for learning, there are those who do not feel there is a need to acquire knowledge in today's world. This international work gives the Pueblorico a chance of opportunity, and with hope and faith.
    I am sure the Pueblorico community have appreciated your dedicated work and "kind heart".

    ReplyDelete
  3. gunnyawnFebruary 26, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    What a wonderful way to push literacy among those who aren't that adept at using language! Even some of us who consider ourselves expert language users could sometimes use assistance in composing love letters!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ray's BlogMarch 1, 2011 at 11:54 PM

    Great!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ray's BlogMarch 2, 2011 at 12:14 AM

    Providing literacy classes to marginalized inhabitants of Colombia will improve their communication skills and ways of living as well.
    By completing at least their primary education can lead them to make correct decision without difficulty.

    ReplyDelete
  6. EcuatoriGringaMarch 3, 2011 at 11:33 AM

    Thank you everyone for your comments! At ProLiteracy we have seen that basic education provides learners with tools to improve their lives. What we’ve constantly witnessed in our programs is that improvement in literacy trickles down to benefit children, other family members, and more than anything, gives learners the confidence they need to bring about change in their lives and communities.

    Alesha Anderson, International Program Officer, ProLiteracy

    ReplyDelete
  7. KrisJuly 13, 2011 at 10:50 AM

    Hi all,

    It is easy to see how literacy education is valued as intergenerational with benefits being cumulative over time.

    ReplyDelete

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