This document discusses strategies for conducting community assessments for education projects. It provides examples of literacy projects conducted by Rotary International in various countries. Some key points:
1) Over 700 million adults and over 120 million youth globally lack basic literacy skills. Two-thirds are women and girls, with over half living in sub-Saharan Africa.
2) Successful projects engage the local community, empower them in project design and implementation, and ensure sustainability through training of local teachers and replication of simple literacy programs.
3) Examples are given of successful literacy projects conducted by Rotary clubs in countries like South Africa, Egypt, Liberia, and Puerto Rico. Projects focused on building basic literacy skills in preschools and
2. Past RI President Bill Boyd, New Zealand
Moderator
The Panel
Past RI Director Noraseth Pathmanand, Thailand
President, LitRAG
Rotarian Amy Matusek, USA
Souns Projects-USA and South Africa
3. 774 MILLION
illiterate
ADULT>15 years old
123 MILLION
illiterate
YOUTH15-24 years old
THERE ARE
2/3
73 MILLION
are female
2/3
493 MILLION
are women
THERE ARE
5. WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
54 million of the 76 million illiterate young women live in only 9 countries
6. WHO WILL BE ILLITERATE IN THE FUTURE?
57 MILLION
out-of-school children
1 in 2
live in sub-Saharan Africa
will never enter
a classroom
have dropped out
or will start late
1/2
1/2
GLOBALLY
250 MILLION
children of primary school age, whether they are in school
or not, lack basic reading and writing skills.*
*Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2012
7. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THEM?
INEQUALITY
UNFULFILLED INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AND A LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE
TO THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
POVERTY UNSTABLE, POORLY
PAID JOBS
20. • One visit and we could see…
– Literacy was clearly a need.
• We made sure the community wished to be helped.
• We worked with the community to make a plan.
• We confirmed available talents and resources.
Identify
24. • Engage the community…
– We spent a great deal of time sharing with:
• Rotarians in possible partnering districts
• Community leadership in host site
• Project participants in international and host site
Engage
29. • Empowering the community…
– We embraced and trained the community.
– We included new advocates as they
demonstrated interest in the project.
– The project was expanded through initiatives
within the community by the community.
Empower
33. …and build an attitude of “I can do this!” for a generation.
34. • Sharing results of the project…
– We visited project sites often…
• Celebrating progress
• Assisting with issues
• Collecting data and taking pictures to share with
participating Rotary clubs
• Sending images and short stories to local publications
• Presenting the project whenever possible
Share
40. • Sustain, sustain, sustain…
– We trained teachers and trainers of teachers.
• Project resulted in a body of trained teachers
• Well chosen NGO organizations benefited by
adding this program to their offerings
• At end of project the work continues with
materials, teachers, and teacher trainers in place.
Sustain
44. • Replicate….
– Souns is a program that can be used in all
languages that use the Latin Alphabet
– There are no expendables, so the materials
provide tools for subsequent years.
– The program is simple to use for teachers or
caregivers.
– A trained population ensures project can
expand its reach within community.
Replicate
45. There is a better tomorrow for these children! “Thank you,
Rotarians!”