Literacy skills for 200 refugee women and girls

This months ( Friday 26th November 2021), we graduated 25 South Sudanese women and girls who completed our six months integrated Functional Adult Literacy Program. Besides learning basic numeracy and literacy skills, the women also learnt leadership skills. Other areas covered during the six months training were; Hygiene and Sanitation, basic facts on the spread and prevention of COVID-19, HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health issues that affect women, Environment specifically the need for tree planting as women are the  most affected by climate change effects. Aspects of entreprenmuarship and business management skills were also discussed. The training was practical, conducted twice a week and classes lasting 2-3 hours. 90% of the women registered full attendance of the training over the 6 months period. 

According Ms. Asienzo, a 45 year old single mother of 6 children living in Boroli settlement of Adjumani, learning English was like a dream for her. ''I was married off at the age of 17, my father did not value girls education so i was not taken to school though I had much interest to study because I knew when one studies, they are able to change their lives and those around them, but I didnt get that opportunity. I made a promise to ensure all my children get an education that I why I struggle as a single mother to ensure my children attend school. Am so happy to learn how to read and write in English, even though what I know is small, it will help me read my children's report cards and understand plus i can also talk to some of my customers who dont speak my language since I sell vegetables in the market. Thank you Voice for Humanity for bringing for us teachers who are from the community as they made us understand easily since they can translate some things in our language'.  

Thank you all for making it possible for Asienzo and her friends gain the skills that will not only nimprove on their self confidence but imporve the quality of life of their families. Educated woman means a healthier family. We are more than grateful for you kind donation that has enabled us buy the training materials and facilitate community teachers to make a difference.

While the COVID-19 restriction has made holding of group learning programs, the project team has developed and adapted the project to the prevailing situation. As of July 2021, the project team will be conducting radio based literacy learning program to teach adults basic numeracy and literacy skills. These will be integrated with other cross-cutting issues including issues on COVID-19 prevention measures, hygiene and sanitation practices, gender based violence and available referral mechanism for survivors of violence, Environment and Reproductive health issues. There will be one hour program held on Radio Salama which is widely listened to by Refugees at Adjumani and this will be conducted two days a week totaling to 2 hours per week of learning and sharing information on those other critical cross cutting issues essential for the welfare of especially women and children during these covid 19 lockdown.

Voice for Humanity Uganda appreciates yoru continued support as we equip refugee women and girls with literacy skills for self reliance.

Over 85% of South Sudanese women and girls are Illiterate. Economic, social and cultural barriers limit women and girls access to education. For Mary, a South Sudanese Refugees woman currently residing in Boroli settlement of Adjumani in the West Nile district of Uganda, her dream to become a medical Doctor was shattered when she lost her father during the civil war in Sudan. Left with a single mother and we nothing to meet her educational needs, Mary was forced to get married at the age of 16 years. She was among the 15 refugee women we recently enrolled for 6 months Adult Literacy Education. Mary could not hide excitement of learning how to identify, read and mention the letters of the ALPHABET.  '' I am so happy that I am in class learning after so many years, I want to advance in my studies in this adult class so that I can become a leader in my community and serve my fellow women, I will use this skills to advocate for the rights of women and girls and become their voice because when you are Illiterate, no body listens to you and people can talk in English and you fear to express yourself because of language but with this now, I will be bold enough to talk onbehalf of my fellow refugee women. Tha k you Voice for Humanity Uganda for giving me this opportunity to be in class again''.

Dear Partners, Your kind donations has helped us enroll a new group of 20 women who will undergo a six months Literacy Program that started on Thursday 21st January 2021. For Jackline, A south Sudanese refugee woman and mother of 8 children, learning to say and write letters of Alphabet is like dream come back true. In her own words “I wanted to study so much in my life BUT like many south Sudanese girls my parents denied me the opportunity to go to school and instead married me off at the age of 16 years because they wanted the cows”. I have been struggling to send my children to school and didn’t know I would get the opportunity to learn. At least I can now help my children with their homework especially those in Primary one and know how my children are performing”.