This blog post was written by Megan Henderson, our Senior Communications & Events Officer, and photos were taken by Jean Bizimana from Taking Pictures, Changing Lives.
In many remote areas where we work literacy and numeracy levels are low. Often communities were unable to access education and our literacy and numeracy lessons are where they learn to read and write for the first time. Literacy and numeracy are important foundations for any business and for transparent, self-managing Savings Groups. For our members to save and build businesses which sustain their families, reading, writing and counting is their first step. But we have found the benefits stretch far beyond the functional - learn more below.
A Group meets under a tree in Karamoja, Uganda, for their literacy lesson.
When we are invited to begin a programme, we help the community identify its own needs and, if low literacy is a challenge for them, we help them to choose a literacy and numeracy programme which best serves them. Some choose to follow a government curriculum whilst others choose a participatory adult learning approach pioneered by our partners, the Mothers’ Union in our joint programme in Burundi. This Group in Karamoja is meeting outdoors under a tree. Their trainer has brought a chalkboard and chalk for their lesson.
The trainer brings a chalkboard for the lesson.
Many members keep a workbook to take them through their lesson. These workbooks can go home with the members so they can practise away from their Group too. Some members have said they practise alongside their children while they do their homework. Our trainers tell us often the first hurdle for members is holding the chalk or a pen. Lucy, a trainer in Karamoja, taught her learners with sticks and dirt first, “When the programme started things were not easy. I instructed my learners to sit, relax, and write in the dirt. Now they can join letters on the chalkboard and are eager to do more.” Our trainers are brilliant at adapting and finding ways to meet the community where they are to help them move forward.
Member holds on to their pencil.
Member with their literacy workbook.
Literacy lessons are tailored to the community. This means trainers have deep knowledge and understanding of the community where they work, and learners are taught in their local language. Sometimes, where multiple languages are spoken, trainers will deliver lessons in two languages.
Member writes on chalkboard.
Member solves math problem.
Literacy lessons are not unlike what happens in regular schooling: Groups sound out the alphabet, and begin to learn different words and phrases.
But what is unique about the literacy training is how it addresses what goes on in each community. Each lesson covers a topic, chosen by the community itself.
For example, when Rachel visited a Group in Burundi the community was worried about the lack of rainfall, and they traced the cause back to soil erosion. The trainer facilitating the lesson used the different vowel and syllable sounds in ‘soil erosion’ (in the local language) to have learners practice their literacy - but first, the Group had a meaningful discussion about too much tree-cutting and the effects it could have on their community. They also discussed the solutions they could think of to tackle it, and increase rainfall. Finally, they used tree-cutting as part of their numeracy, forming mathematical questions such as: how many trees do you have if 10 are planted in the morning, but 3 are cut?
Literacy lessons are a tool for change. Communities build essential skills for forming a business but they also become advocates of change in their community and use their resources and knowledge to tackle challenges they face.
When our Groups complete literacy training they graduate to become Savings Groups. If you’d like to see what a Savings Group looks like you can click here.