Help 200 women in northern Uganda learn to read

Greetings! 

Welcome to our literacy program in 2017; you may not recognize it as our goal this year is to provide 1500 women with the opportunity to participate in our literacy program. While this is a lofty goal, we are working hard to raise the necessary funds to make this happen. If you believe that all people have the right to a basic education, please join us, and contribute to our effort. 

As we head into our 10th year, we are more committed to this program having witnessed the impact and success of WGEF's literacy project. Here is an excerpt from my 2016 field notes: 

“I used to be blind, but now I can see” – Anek, WGEF literacy participant, Gulu

It was a short statement, but spoken slowly, with intention, directed at me. I had the opportunity to visit with a group of women in a more rural village outside of Gulu, many were participants in our literacy program and we had gathered beneath the shade of a jackfruit tree. I asked the group what programs were most meaningful and the program had changed their lives.  The woman, Anek, stood as she spoke. I asked if she would share with us what she has learned. She walked to the blackboard propped against the tree, picked up a piece of chalk – and carefully wrote her name across the smudged slate. I watched this, sitting on a small wooden bench, tears falling. This seemingly tiny moment is what my work and WGEF is all about.

It may seem like the smallest of moments, but it was so big, raw, honest and human. This is what we (WGEF) do: create humanity, in a space where it had once been extinguished.

I hope you are inspired and continue to support WGEF. Thank you for your commitment to women's empowerment!

Peace,

Karen