As we stop to recognize World Literacy Day on September 8, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to reaffirm its commitment to literacy as a foundational tool for achieving equality, individual empowerment, and sustainable development.
Michael Kruger, president of ADRA International, emphasizes the importance of literacy in ADRA’s work, saying, “Education is a crucial element in breaking the cycle of poverty. Through literacy training and other programs, ADRA is able to help remove some of the barriers to education and provide support for the communities we serve."
Because ADRA is a global network, we are able to tailor our literacy programs to meet the specific needs of diverse communities that include children, adults, and refugees. By providing access to high-quality education, ADRA empowers individuals with the skills needed to improve their lives and give back to their communities.
ADRA’s work is guided by the belief that literacy is a human right and a crucial step toward achieving equity and reaching our fullest potential. Today, we’d like to highlight just a few of ADRA’s ongoing projects in Africa and Central America. By focusing on these areas, ADRA aims to create lasting change, one reader at a time.
Mali
In Mali, the adult literacy program began when the local ADRA office noticed there was a need among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the region of Segou to learn to read and write in the local language, Bambara, and find ways to help financially support their families.
ADRA Mali constructed and renovated classrooms and shelters, turning them into accessible learning spaces for children and women. They also taught soap making to the IDP women as a way for them to earn a small amount of money for their families. The women who attended these literacy and numeracy classes were able to form a community, finding a network of support and friendship.
One beneficiary is Zeïnabou, originally from a village in Mali called Haïdara-wèrè. Zeïnabou speaks the sonrhaï language, which is her mother tongue. However, in 2022, she and her family were forced to leave their village due to armed conflicts and relocate to the ATTbougou’s IDP camp in Segou, Mali.
In Segou, Zeïnabou has not been able to communicate with the community around her because they speak Bambara, the spoken language in that region. She, along with her sisters and others, spent their time being idle because in the camp they didn’t have land to cultivate or a way to earn money.
When Assita from ADRA Mali came to encourage her and others to take part in the ADRA adult literacy and numeracy program, Zeïnabou was hesitant because her first priority is earning an income that will help feed her and her family.
However, after meeting Assita again, Zeïnabou agreed to join the literacy program. At first she felt lost, because she’d never been to school. After six months attending the program, she is learning to count and recite letters and words in the Bambara language. Now she’s able, little by little, to communicate with the people in her community. Through the program, she has also found a group of women who can support and learn from each other.
El Salvador
In El Salvador, ADRA has created more than 120 literacy schools that have provided life-changing opportunities for many in the country. The program not only teaches students to read and write but also gives them confidence to continue their education and find jobs.
More than 8,000 people have participated in ADRA El Salvador’s literacy program over the years, and there are now more than 1,000 students currently enrolled across the country. In addition to literacy training, the program also allows people who didn’t finish their high school degree to complete it and receive their diploma. In 2023, ADRA helped 1,087 people learn to read and write or finish their diplomas.
Recently, in the city of Santa Tecla, the mayor realized 25 of his employees did not know how to read or write. Partnering with ADRA El Salvador, he agreed to let his employees work until 3:00 PM and then attend ADRA’s literacy program. After going through the program, they had learned to read and write, and a few even earned their high school diplomas. This program has allowed his employees to look for higher-paying jobs and move up in the government. Now, mayors in other cities are following Santa Tecla’s example and allowing their employees the same opportunity.
ADRA’s commitment to literacy is not simply about teaching people to read and write but about opening doors to opportunities, enhancing self-sufficiency, and building resilient communities. As the world marks World Literacy Day, ADRA’s network offices, staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries stand as a testament to the transformative power of education.
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