ProLiteracy Partner Visit in the Dominican Republic!
The following post was written by Dr. Lynn Curtis, Senior Advisor at ProLiteracy, as he was visiting ProLiteracy’s partner, Tú Mujer in the Dominican Republic. ProLiteracy has been partnering with Tú Mujer for more than 10 years, and supports their literacy and micro enterprise projects with funds from Citi Foundation.
The workshop with Tú Mujer turned out to be a celebration! So much energy, enthusiasm, and appreciation for our literacy-based business training, and their historic connection with ProLiteracy. Tú Mujer leaders spoke repeatedly and glowingly of their 10+year association with ProLiteracy.
In spite of a torrential rainstorm, we had 35 attendees attend the workshop - a mix of facilitators, participants, and group leaders - all active women from the various barrios and villages served by Tú Mujer. Their program integrates micro finance, literacy, health, and community action in a number of neighborhoods of Santo Domingo.
This was the kind of focused group that a workshop leader dreams of: hungry and so happy for more knowledge and practice related to facilitating literacy, small business development and community development. Participants each received some of our Literacy Solutions manuals that are specifically designed to help people with low literacy skills start or grow a small business; everyone present received a copy of 6Ps Business Principles, Success and our Hybrid manual which combines 2-3 chapters from all of our Literacy Solutions manuals Training included participatory, techniques for applying reading and writing instruction to business and community action, and 6Ps applications to their specific small businesses. Their amazing openness made the whole experience such a joy!
The workshop with Tú Mujer turned out to be a celebration! So much energy, enthusiasm, and appreciation for our literacy-based business training, and their historic connection with ProLiteracy. Tú Mujer leaders spoke repeatedly and glowingly of their 10+year association with ProLiteracy.
In spite of a torrential rainstorm, we had 35 attendees attend the workshop - a mix of facilitators, participants, and group leaders - all active women from the various barrios and villages served by Tú Mujer. Their program integrates micro finance, literacy, health, and community action in a number of neighborhoods of Santo Domingo.
This was the kind of focused group that a workshop leader dreams of: hungry and so happy for more knowledge and practice related to facilitating literacy, small business development and community development. Participants each received some of our Literacy Solutions manuals that are specifically designed to help people with low literacy skills start or grow a small business; everyone present received a copy of 6Ps Business Principles, Success and our Hybrid manual which combines 2-3 chapters from all of our Literacy Solutions manuals Training included participatory, techniques for applying reading and writing instruction to business and community action, and 6Ps applications to their specific small businesses. Their amazing openness made the whole experience such a joy!
This is a great contribution to for professional development. Keep up the wonderful work. Particularly in adult education this is well needed.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, a great service is provided for those who truly need it. Are the participants planning to return to their villages and share what they've learned?
ReplyDelete“Thanks for your comment, @glenroy pinnock and @monicam1616! Yes, the participants were very excited to learn new ways to improve their lives and businesses through the integration of literacy. In fact, even though the training was supposed to last 2 hours, participants asked to stay overtime so that they could continue learning and practice some of the new techniques. We believe that means there will be a lot of sharing back in their communities and, hopefully, elsewhere!”
ReplyDelete-Alesha Anderson, International Program Coordinator, ProLiteracy
That's a great accomplishment! I'm sure the response from those who attended was overwhelmingly positive, and it sounds as if they gained much from the training. This kind of service needs to be shared with those in higher education! And congrats on 10 years with Tu Mujer!
ReplyDeleteProliteracy, continue to do good to foster a positive social change. Your contribution is un-measurable.
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ReplyDeleteDr. Curtis and all attendees,
ReplyDeleteI really think this type of focus group is so beneficial to so many people. I have been blogging with Dr. Jane Vella. According to Dr. Vella (2011) conducting workshops with illerate individuals is an excellent way to help them help themselves and learn how to read and write. She ran workshops helping these countries out so that they could facilitate literacy. She was also truly dedicated to teaching others, all over the world. Individuals like you and her are true positive change agents.
Thank you.
ProLiteracy’s global involvement is providing the information/techniques so adults can gain skills to expand their business and become successful entrepreneurs, facilitators, and community leaders
ReplyDeleteMy colleague was in the Dominican Republic on a health care mission trip. She had the same thing to say about the participants' enthusiam and eargerness to learn, even in the most adverse circumstances.
ReplyDeleteI had not heard about ProLiteracy's mission and work until informed by one of my professors in my doctoral program this fall. Thanks for your vision and passion to make a difference. Do you work with any educational settings in Indiana, USA?