Literacy Centers
Early in 2004, P.W.P. began to investigate the possibility of creating an adult literacy program that would particularly target women in Haiti who must spend most of their day working in small markets to provide for their families. We spent time in Haiti meeting and talking with women’s groups both in the city and in the countryside to evaluate the “need” and develop culturally appropriate ways of meeting this “need.” At that time it was estimated that 80% of Haitians are functionally illiterate and this estimate remains today. It did not take long to determine that, whether in the city or the mountains, Haitian people, especially women, wanted and welcomed any program PWP could offer that would help them to acquire reading, writing and basic mathematic skills.
The inability to read and write breeds incredible levels of low self-esteem, lack of self-respect and lack of respect from others who may have a level of education no matter how small. The obvious disadvantages of being illiterate, such as the handicaps it brings in marketing their goods and services pale in comparison to what it does to the spirit of that person who must choose the slavery of silence because they are bound by the shame of illiteracy. It prevents that person from becoming a contributing member of society. At the same time, he or she struggles with pent up talents and capabilities that they were born with and the degrading frustration of never being able to release any of their inherit intelligence because of the stigma that shrouds them. The voice of an illiterate person is not considered equal or valid. The Haitian proverb, "an illiterate is not an animal", sums up their dilemma succinctly. Meaning just because I can’t read or write doesn’t mean I am an animal.
Research led us to ROTALPHA CLE which is a concentrated language encounter developed by the Rotary Club of Petionville, Haiti specific to the cultural and social needs of the Haitian people. We financed their experienced, highly efficient trainer, Ms. Bayyinah Bello to travel to Cap-Haitien and provide training for twenty-four young ladies. Along with the ROTALPHA CLE training, we engaged the services of Mr. Samson Joseph who further trained these ladies in the Reflection Circle and Open Space methodology. This teaching method, developed by Beyond Borders and The Experiment is used in many countries including Haiti to enhance a class of any kind. It fosters a non-authoritarian technique with the students developing skills in listening, and communicating with equal respect for all participants.
P.W.P. has embraced these two methods with passion and commitment. We believe it will provide the students with the practical skills of reading, writing and basic math and at the same time open their minds and hearts to embrace each other and their country with pride and appreciation while releasing the resourcefulness and talents that may otherwise remain hidden.
We have recently been blessed to employ ten of the trainees and open ten literacy centers! Each teacher is required to find a location for, assemble her class of 20-25 students and commit to working closely with the area monitor and administrator. At that time, P.W.P. provides the necessary teaching materials and a montly salary for the teacher. This simple method will prove invaluable over time as students complete the course and become validated, respected persons.
If all twenty-four of our trainees were employed in this fashion, there would be the possibility for six hundred enthusiastic, inspired, literate persons to be released into their communities each year. This would be an unstoppable force of change for the City of Cap-Haitien and outlying area! We urge you to look at the cost of sponsoring one of these literacy centers and see how POSSIBLE it is for you to become a part of this great move.
Click HERE to sponsor a Literacy Center!
