Reading, Writing and Growing

It’s been more than 50 days since we presented this project and we have received one donation, for which we are very grateful. Being that we only have 90 days to fund this program we have to re-budget. The core of this petition is to be able to continue our activities, we have limited our costs to transport expenses necessary for volunteers to reach the classes, we cannot lower it more, and we cannot ask for our volunteers to pay as we know their economic situation. This means there will not be, for now: a computer, (we will continue to use volunteer’s computers when available), new materials, awards or grants for the vulnerable members of the class. As we say, not for now. One of the groups (Mboscuda) even offered to pay themselves for the classes, as they really value what they are learning and don’t want to lose their progress. We know their economic level and we hope it does not have to come to that. We wanted to notify this in a report to explain the shrinking of our funding goal and we take the opportunity to report to you also on the first experience the girls had with a computer, in the end you can also see three short interviews with the students.

These are the impressions from one of the Educators working with them.

None of our students had ever laid hands on a computer before.

What might seem easy and a given thing to some might be a huge challenge for others, the first day we spent most of our time writing simple introductions such as My name is … But it was worth it, they were genuinely excited and eager to keep trying. We are using software donated by Crossroads Hong Kong to learn typing, the Touch-Type Read and Spell (TTRS) software is designed having in mind those who have never had contact with a computer. It makes them go back to the literacy concepts from a different perspective, being pushed to recognize letters and words in the computer and to type them back.

With this we aim to open new windows in these women’s lives and to keep them challenged and engaged on the learning process.
The potentialities of the project go very far. It is not only a useful skill to master, even if they cannot afford to have a personal computer in the house. It helps with their literacy progress and when they are being challenged and they accept and finally master that challenge they are further improving and sharpening their analytical skills and thinking process. They are feeling more empowered and self-assured within the classroom and ultimately within households and communities, they will be more efficient in their businesses. All of this while slowly opening a window to a whole world of resources and possibilities. In due time we will start with the internet.

It is very rewarding to help those who already want to help themselves.

We hope these women can inspire anyone who is reading is to value the chances you’ve had and to take on that difficult skill you always wanted to engage in but never had time or determination to start.

Bonus: Three short interviews with beneficiaries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LptKg76QZSg&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuTZAp4Kv6Q&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEV3cDPvhuY&feature=youtu.be