Global Literacy Matters

Notes from the Field: ProLiteracy’s Visit to the Tongaat Adult Literacy Class

2012-02-02T09:08:00.004-05:00

Notes from the Field--Tongaat Adult Literacy Class in South AfricaAlesha AndersonInternational Programs CoordinatorToday ProLiteracy President and CEO David Harvey and I went to visit one of Operation Upgrade’s adult literacy classes in a small town about 40 minutes outside of Durban called Tongaat. The adult learners had been meeting for about a year and were coming to the end of their studies.

ProLiteracy’s South Africa Site Visit--Notes from the Field

2012-02-01T09:03:00.004-05:00

Notes from the Filed--January 31, 2012Alesha AndersonInternational Programs CoordinatorToday was a very exciting day out in the field! ProLiteracy’s President, David Harvey and I went to visit an organization that ProLiteracy has been partnering with for more than 40 years: Operation Upgrade (OpUp). OpUp is one of the largest and oldest NGO’s in South Africa focused on adult literacy. ProLiteracy

An Irish Success Story

2012-01-31T12:17:00.004-05:00

Michael Power, from County Tipperary in Ireland, had had enough.In his late 30s, he had trouble taking notes at meetings, filling out forms at work, and worse, he could not understand what the doctors were saying when his baby daughter fell ill.Take a moment to read this inspiring article from the Irish Independent News, where Power describes how he transformed his life by taking - and passing -

ProLiteracy Site Visit: Ecuador

2012-01-23T15:04:00.016-05:00

Notes from the Field: Quito, Ecuador – Alesha Anderson, International Program ManagerI am now back in the United States after spending one week in the beautiful Andean Mountains of Ecuador. ProLiteracy is expanding our literacy and micro finance work in South America. We have been working on a financial literacy program with FINCA, an international micro finance institution dedicated to

Notes from Colombia—Part III

2012-01-17T12:47:00.006-05:00

David HarveyPresident and CEO of ProLiteracyWhy have I become so passionate about literacy in Colombia and, specifically, in Medellin? You won't believe what I saw. See the pictures posted here: Medellin, through a unique partnership between the public and private sectors (each pay 50 percent of the bill), built seven "park libraries" in the lowest income neighborhoods in the city’s steep

Notes from Colombia—Part II

2012-01-13T09:26:00.005-05:00

By David HarveyPresident and CEO of ProLiteracyWhat about literacy in Colombia, you might ask? After all, ProLiteracy has a history of almost half a century of supporting native-language literacy programs that reach some of the most disenfranchised in Colombia: those displaced by violence and warfare; indigenous tribes, particularly women; coffee growers; and former FARC guerillas who through

Notes from Colombia—Part I

2012-01-12T16:13:00.005-05:00

By David HarveyPresident and CEO of ProLiteracyGreetings from Colombia, a country that in important ways has transformed itself from a politically violent era dominated by guerilla warfare, assassinations, and drug cartel violence. I’ve traveled through what Colombians describe as the "jewel" and "heart" of Colombia—Cartegena—to the old coastal city of Santa Marta, and on to the sophisticated,

Literacy in China

2011-12-22T13:56:00.003-05:00

Today's story comes to us from one of our partners in China, Association for the Rural Development of Yilong County (ARDY)“We never starved, but it was always a struggle to make ends meet,” said Yurong Xu as she reflected on her life, staring off into the mountains lined with rice paddies and corn fields that surround her home.In 1998, Yurong Xu’s life very much reflected that of a typical poor

Sofia's Story

2011-12-21T11:58:00.004-05:00

The following story comes from one of our partners in Ecuador. Sofia’s story is one of our highlights from the financial literacy classes we are supporting in Latin America.Sofia has always loved sewing, but never imagined how important her skills would be until her husband decided to abandon the family. The only way to feed her two children was to start a business. She had no experience or

Highlights from Uganda

2011-12-20T12:15:00.002-05:00

Operation Upgrade Based in the city of Durban, Operation Upgrade emphasizes native languages and English literacy within the context of varied community and institutional structures, including squatter slums, rural villages, impoverished townships and workplaces. Operation Upgrade teaches adults to read

Giving Hope for Literacy in Ethiopia

2009-09-01T12:28:00.005-04:00

International Literacy DayEthiopiaEHRCEPAThe Ethiopian Human Rights and Civic Education Promotion Association (EHRCEPA) is an Ethiopian non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting human rights, providing voter education, and fighting harmful traditional practices, particularly those that affect women. Through “door to door” education and counseling, workshops, panel discussions, and

Giving Hope for Literacy in Brazil

2009-09-01T11:57:00.004-04:00

International Literacy DayBrazilAssociação Beneficente de Vila Cachoeira (ABVC)ABVC serves residents of Vila Cachoeira, an area once abundant in cacao. The region experienced a cacao crisis due to a plague that destroyed the crops, and therefore people lost their main means of generating income. ABVC is helping residents to find new ways of generating income and recently has opened a community

Giving Hope for Literacy in Afghanistan

2009-09-01T09:20:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayAfghanistanThe Roquia CenterThe Roqia Center, ProLiteracy’s Afghan partner, has developed an innovative literacy program for couples in some of Kabul’s poorest neighborhoods. Attending class often means being in the same room with other men and women not from their own family—with the women’s faces uncovered—for the first time in their lives. Every class includes people

Giving Hope for Literacy in China

2009-08-31T13:45:00.007-04:00

International Literacy DayChinaBeijing Cultural Development Center for Rural WomenSelf-reliance, rural economic development, poverty elimination, and advanced agricultural technology are a few of the areas that the Beijing Cultural Development Center for Rural Women (BCDCRW) promotes in order to advance the status of rural women and help them improve their quality of life. With ProLiteracy’s

Giving Hope for Literacy in Rwanda

2009-08-28T11:23:00.005-04:00

International Literacy DayRwanda Umuhuza Family Literacy ProjectThe Umuhuza family literacy project works in the impoverished areas of the Ngororero district. The organization’s goal is to improve childhood development and achieve parent and child literacy in the region. In partnership with SEVOTA and ProLiteracy, Umuhuza has trained education leaders in an intensive Learning Lab. The process

Giving Hope for Literacy in El Salvador

2009-08-28T09:28:00.005-04:00

International Literacy DayEl SalvadorALFALITProLiteracy’s partner ALFALIT provides literacy instruction that focuses on economic self-sufficiency to residents of urban and rural villages that were devastated during El Salvador’s 12-year civil war and recent earthquakes. Through instruction, group discussions, and action projects, participants gain the reading, writing, math, and organizational

Giving Hope for Literacy in Egypt

2009-08-26T10:15:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayEgyptThe Association of Anba Mussah, Al-Assad (ANBA)ANBA works with people in the squatter slums of Old Cairo, where many Egyptians from rural areas relocate to escape poverty. Women’s literacy is a huge concern in this area, and ANBA leaders promote literacy in order to educate people on issues of “socio-health,” which include respiratory tract infections, intestinal

Giving Hope for Literacy in India

2009-08-25T11:23:00.002-04:00

International Literacy DayIndiaLaubach Literacy Educational Trust (LLET)Literacy Educational Trust (LLET), established in 1958, can point with pride to a ground swell of evidence it has gathered as to the efficacy of adult basic literacy as a tool of solving problems and resolving social injustices. During the past 50 years, LLET has helped tens of thousands of newly literate women and their

Giving Hope for Literacy in Kenya

2009-08-21T14:19:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayKenyaKenya Adult Learners’ Association (KALA)KALA is a consortium of women’s literacy and development projects in Nairobi’s slum areas and rural Kenyan villages. Formed in 1990, KALA member groups focus on education, health, and income-generation as key components of grassroots development. The association provides technical assistance, training, a newsletter (“The Voice

Giving Hope for Literacy in the Dominican Republic

2009-08-20T12:02:00.005-04:00

International Literacy DayDominican RepublicFUNDASEPFUNDASEP’s efforts are based in three extremely poor provinces in the southwestern part of the Dominican Republic. The organization promotes the link between healthy people and healthy environment. New learners are introduced to FUNDASEP's primers on vida (life), agua (water), and salud (health). They learn the importance of sanitation and

Giving Hope for Literacy in the Philippines

2009-08-19T15:36:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayPhilippinesMAKAMASA Tondo Women’s OrganizationMAKAMASA organizes impoverished women to come together to learn and develop solutions to the problems they face in their homes and neighborhoods. Together they focus their energies on literacy learning, income generation projects, raising awareness of women’s issues, and family and community health improvement. To combat the

Giving Hope for Literacy in Haiti

2009-08-18T14:56:00.003-04:00

International Literacy Day Haiti AyitiKonseVet (AKV)AKV is a training program for rural Haitian farmers in the north and northwest regions of Haiti. The project includes literacy classes for rural farmers and their families with a focus on environmental sustainability through better farming

Giving Hope for Literacy in Albania

2009-08-17T12:48:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayAlbania“Youth Intellectuals, Hope” (IRSH)ProLiteracy partners with "Youth, Intellectuals, Hope" (IRSH) in Albania. IRSH is an active NGO that has been a strong presence in Albania since 1994. IRSH is involved with a variety of community-based youth and education projects. IRSH addresses the needs of orphans and other populations while dealing with gender, corruption,

Giving Hope for Literacy in Mali

2009-08-16T10:00:00.002-04:00

International Literacy DayMaliOuelessebougou AllianceOuelessebougou Alliance supports local women’s education membership organizations. In addition to learning to read and write, women learn about health, nutrition, hygiene, AIDS, and farming techniques. They develop cooperatives, produce and sell goods, and discuss issues such as female circumcision and domestic abuse. Participants launched an

Giving Hope for Literacy in Cambodia

2009-08-15T07:25:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayCambodiaCambodia World Family (CWF)CWF’s mission is to provide the rural poor of Cambodia with the intellectual and economic tools they need to attain self-sufficiency. Their mission is built on two beliefs: knowledge is freedom, and the greatest impact that can be made upon a society is through its women. CWF’s initiatives include, adult Khmer literacy, an oral hygiene

Giving Hope for Literacy in Colombia

2009-08-14T09:18:00.002-04:00

International Literacy DayColombiaCorporación Educativa CLEBAAmidst the violence and social problems in Colombia, CLEBA is empowering adults, specifically those displaced by conflict. Its program has two main components, educating literacy instructors, and providing literacy instruction to illiterate adults. Educators are instructed on how to better connect literacy with the daily needs of the

Giving Hope for Literacy in Ghana

2009-08-13T14:03:00.006-04:00

International Literacy DayGhanaPACE GhanaPACE Ghana is a community based library project initiated by a Ghanaian immigrant to the United States. Since its establishment, The Okyeame Dankwa Memorial Community Library Why Ghana?Though Ghanaian citizens enjoy peace and prosperity relative to other West African countries, their incomes are still among the lowest in the world. Because many of the

Giving Hope for Literacy in Pakistan

2009-08-12T08:16:00.002-04:00

International Literacy DayPakistanAasthan Latif Welfare SocietyAasthan Latif Welfare Society is dedicated to promoting girls’ education and spearheading education and literacy among rural females. In just a few years, Aasthan has setup over 500 community girls’ primary schools in rural villages of Sindh, Pakistan, where thousands of girls have benefited. Much of the literacy instruction addresses

Giving Hope for Literacy in Bolivia

2009-08-11T12:46:00.001-04:00

International Literacy DayBoliviaSoroptimist International of CochabambaSoroptimist of Cochabamba helps Quechua women living in destitute barrios join “mothers’ clubs” to advance the welfare of their families and communities. With literacy education as the cornerstone of their programs, mother’s club members are managing successful businesses, instituting revolving loan funds, and establishing

Giving Hope for Literacy in Nepal

2009-08-10T12:31:00.002-04:00

NepalTulasi Meher UNESCO Club (TMUC)In both rural and urban areas, TMUC is committed to high standards of literacy—applying reading and writing with real-life learning in areas such as health, savings, and income-generation. Networked with other grassroots programs, TMUC has helped curb the effects of poverty in the region by empowering women and their families. TMUC provides spinning wheels for

Donate Now with Chipin!

2009-08-10T12:06:00.005-04:00

International Literacy Day Countdown

2009-08-10T11:30:00.003-04:00

International Literacy DayAugust 10, 2009In an effort to bring awareness to not only International Literacy Day but also to the wonderful work of ProLiteracy’s global partners, we are launching the International Literacy Day Countdown, “Giving Hope for Global Literacy.” Starting August 10 through September 8, 2009. ProLiteracy will highlight our Women in Literacy initiative by featuring 29

The G8 Summit’s Commitment to Literacy

2009-07-13T09:01:00.004-04:00

In April of 2000 the World Education Forum gathered in Dakar, Senegal and formed the Framework for Action on Education for All (EFA). The EFA promoted the importance of education in the pursuit of empowering individuals to positively change society. Since its creation, the EFA has played a large role in the eradication of illiteracy around the world. Since 2004, the G8 has been committed to the

ProLiteracy Partner to Receive Honorary PhD for work in Nicaragua

2009-05-15T14:28:00.011-04:00

Dr. Bello has worked closely with Simmons College in Boston, MA and has been nominated to receive an honorary PhD for the her distinguished work in San Juan del Sur.Dr. Rosa Elena Bello has been a committed health care, adult education, and women's issues activist for almost 20 years in the port of San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, working out of the Servicios Medicos Comunales (Community Medical

LLET Pioneers Adult Literacy in Kerala

2009-05-14T12:16:00.013-04:00

In 1958, Dr. A.K. John returned to his hometown of Karthicappally, India, with a plan to launch an adult literacy program. He arrived from the United States bolstered by a new doctorate in theology and inspired by the teachings of world literacy pioneer Dr. Frank C. Laubach. LLET is ProLiteracy's longest continuing program partner -- this year marking the 50th anniversary of our

ProLiteracy’s Partner Program attracts 1,000,000 Listeners with Online Radio Show

2009-05-06T10:56:00.012-04:00

Parras, Mexico is a small eclectic town in the middle of the Mexican desert, located East of Saltillo. Sitting on an oasis in a dry, arid desert, Parras de la Fuente is particularly known for it's winery's and denim factories. In the midst of this small town ProLiteracy's partner, Nueva Vision, has found a unique and innovative way to utilize technology to further their cause and reach a large

UNESCO Invites ProLiteracy South Africa Partner to Paris

2009-04-15T11:59:00.022-04:00

Operation Upgrade is the oldest literacy NGO in South Africa. It was founded in 1966 with the active leadership of Frank Laubach, founder of Laubach Literacy International. Based in the city of Durban, Operation Upgrade emphasizes native language and English literacy within the context of varied community and institutional structures, including squatter slums, rural villages, impoverished towns,

Development Society- ProLiteracy's Partner in Bangladesh

2009-04-08T14:49:00.012-04:00

"Literacy helped us understand our own surroundings and our own power as individuals. We learned about our rights and potential." - Adult Learners, Bangladesh

Welcome

2009-03-31T16:43:00.000-04:00

Every day we at ProLiteracy Worldwide are amazed by the new and innovative ways our partners around the globe find to help more people with their literacy programs. We hear of heartwarming stories of how people’s lives have been transformed through these programs.Welcome to ProLiteracy’s International Programs blog. Through this blog, we wish to share with you the joys and successes of literacy

Champions in Action

2009-03-31T16:04:00.001-04:00

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

International Women in Literacy advanced through new U.S. Government Council

2009-03-31T15:53:00.004-04:00

On March 11th, 2009 President Obama signed an Executive Order creating the White House Council on Women and Girls. The mission of the Council will be to provide a coordinated federal response to the challenges confronted by women and girls and to ensure that all Cabinet and Cabinet-level agencies consider how their policies and programs impact