Adult Literacy

It’s a beautiful Monday morning at BeadforLife in Uganda. The morning mist is just clearing and a soft breeze is rustling leaves in the flowering trees.

The BeadforLife week has begun with many warm greetings and much activity. There is a staff meeting in the front room, bundling, tagging, and counting of beads in the front yard, evaluations of graduates under the banana trees in the side yard, and new literacy classes being held on the verandah! It may seem a bit crowded or chaotic to the untrained eye, but for the staff and beaders of BeadforLife, it is a warm and welcoming home buzzing with chatter and creative productivity.

One thing I believe that makes BeadforLife a very special program is its responsiveness to the suggestions and needs of its members. Several months ago, it became clear that many of our beaders had not been able to attend school as children because of the cost of school fees and were having great difficulty trying to keep records for their fledgling businesses. Many who could not read or write were particularly vulnerable to being cheated in their business dealings with others. So, the staff decided to poll the members to find out who would be interested in attending adult literacy classes. To our surprise and delight, over 60 women signed up immediately for literacy training, most asking to be taught in English, some asking for lessons in Luganda. The teachers, trained volunteers who do this work with great commitment and passion, are paid only enough to cover their transport. The students agreed to 1,000 UgX, the equivalent of fifty cents, per week for two classes to cover the expenses of their teachers. They see it as an investment they are making in their future and the future of their children.

The reality of adult literacy is that it is very difficult to learn reading and writing as we grow older. Almost half of the original sixty members are no longer attending the classes. But, half of the members are attending classes, paying their fees, and learning to read! It is another small step in the BeadforLife journey towards self sufficiency and poverty eradication for women who never imagined their lives could change so dramatically for the better.

Maggie Tidwell (left) Ugandan Deputy Director

Maggie has been Deputy Director of BeadforLife in Uganda since May of 2008. After over thirty years of working on the issues of poverty, domestic violence and child rights in the United States, Maggie appreciates the opportunity to experience new perspectives and challenges in the warm, wonderful culture of Uganda.

Tags: Africa, BeadforLife, Education, Empowering Women, paper jewelry, poverty, Uganda