Adult Literacy Classes Impact Women in Asia
Illiteracy, which impacts 781 million adults worldwide, represents a tremendous detriment in a person’s life.1 In addition to limiting economic opportunities, it affects everyday activities such as shopping and navigating streets. Women in developing regions are disproportionately impacted by illiteracy, with the lowest literacy rates being among women in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.2 Adult literacy classes can be life-changing for these women.
Women represent two-thirds of the world’s illiterate population.3
This reality stems partially from poverty-related gender gaps. If impoverished families can’t afford school costs for all their children, they are more likely to send the boys.4 As a result of this gender inequality, which is more prevalent in low-income countries, 15 million girls—compared to 10 million boys—won’t have the chance to attend school.5 Many of these girls will become illiterate women.
As mothers, illiterate women are hindered in their ability to properly care for their children.
They can’t read warning labels or other important health information. There’s growing research that shows adult literacy decreases infant mortality rates.6 A 2002 study in Bolivia, for example, indicated literate mothers were more likely to seek medical help when needed and more likely to adopt preventive health measures.7 Children with literate mothers are twice as likely to survive past the age of 5.8 Uneducated mothers are also unable to assist children in their studies, which contributes to the perpetuation of generational poverty as their children are more likely to drop out of school.
Literacy, however, can unlock doors of opportunity for these women. GFA World, which offers literacy classes in places such as Asia, has seen thousands of women impacted by the gift of literacy.
Jeni, for example, longed for the opportunity to attend school as a girl, but poverty closed the door to her.9
She was left illiterate in a world filled with written information. As a young widow, Jeni worked hard to provide for her children with her tailoring skills. Without literacy and basic math skills, however, she was often cheated by dishonest shopkeepers. As a grandmother, Jeni’s illiteracy continued to haunt her. She was ashamed of her inability to read or even sign her own name.
A GFA literacy class put the skills she had long desired within reach.
Soon, Jeni was able to decipher letters that had baffled her for decades. With the ability to read and write, she could do simple things that had previously troubled her. Pride replaced shame as she became empowered to negotiate with shopkeepers and write her signature. A struggle that had persisted through most of Jeni’s lifetime had finally ended.
In one village, which was mostly illiterate, a GFA literacy class helped transform the community’s prevailing attitude toward education.10
At first, the women were skeptical of how literacy could benefit their simple lives. Some villagers mocked the six women who joined the class, but pride grew among the small group of students as they gained the ability to read and write. They no longer needed to rely on the color of money when they went to the market. They could read price tags and count out proper amounts of money, verifying the change they received in return was correct. They could help their children with their homework, ensuring they could gain a better education and have hope for a better future. This whole community became infused with hope. Future generations, empowered by education, could have better lives.
These are just two examples of how a literacy class can impact lives. Literacy not only opens doors of opportunity for class participants but bolsters the prospects of their children and strengthens entire communities.
1 Giovetti, Olivia. “6 Benefits of Literacy in the Fight Against Poverty.” Concern Worldwide US. https://www.concernusa.org/story/benefits-of-literacy-against-poverty/. August 27, 2020.
2 “Literacy Rates Continue to Rise from One Generation to the Next.” UNESCO Institute for Statistics. http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs45-literacy-rates-continue-rise-generation-to-next-en-2017_0.pdf. September 2017.
3 “Literacy Rates Continue to Rise from One Generation to the Next.” UNESCO Institute for Statistics. http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/fs45-literacy-rates-continue-rise-generation-to-next-en-2017_0.pdf. September 2017.
4 Rodriguez, Leah. “Understanding How Poverty is the Main Barrier to Education.” Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/poverty-education-satistics-facts/. February 6, 2020.
5 Rodriguez, Leah. “Understanding How Poverty is the Main Barrier to Education.” Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/poverty-education-satistics-facts/. February 6, 2020.
6 Giovetti, Olivia. “6 Benefits of Literacy in the Fight Against Poverty.” Concern Worldwide US. https://www.concernusa.org/story/benefits-of-literacy-against-poverty/. August 27, 2020.
7 Giovetti, Olivia. “6 Benefits of Literacy in the Fight Against Poverty.” Concern Worldwide US. https://www.concernusa.org/story/benefits-of-literacy-against-poverty/. August 27, 2020.
8 “Global poverty and education.” Children International. https://www.children.org/global-poverty/global-poverty-facts/facts-about-world-poverty-and-education. Accessed August 24, 2021.
9 “Unlocking the Door of Literacy.” GFA World. https://www.gfa.org/news/articles/unlocking-the-door-of-literacy/. 2016.
10 “Village Learns to Value Education.” GFA World. https://gospelforasia-reports.org/2020/05/village-learns-value-education/. May 4, 2020.