Literacy Project

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalms 1:2

‘Literacy is at the heart of
Sustainable Development’
-Kofi Annan

National Church Literacy Project

In Sub Saharan Africa the adult (15 yrs.+) literacy rate is 59.3% but in this region of West Africa only 39% of adults can read and write. The rate is even lower for women (29.2%) who have a major impact on the overall well-being of their household (World Bank 2005).

How does this impact the national church? Illiteracy is one of the major obstacles for the establishment and growth of a vibrant church. When church members cannot read it limits the opportunities for personal spiritual development, impacting the whole community.

Two years ago the national church and MTW team addressed this issue by starting a literacy program as a means of equipping church members and ministering to their communities. Nine literacy teachers have been trained, providing a new skill and work for individuals in the church, and last year 150 individuals were enrolled in 10 classes in 7 locations. For some of these individuals it was the first time they had ever held a pencil and attended a class, thus for some illiteracy was quite an obstacle to overcome.

Twenty-five students have completed the two course program and can now read and write. Fifty people will go on this year to the second course, while others will repeat the first year and more will start. The classes meet three times a week during the dry season (January to June), and each course covers half of their 32 letter alphabet. It costs 50 USD per student per six month course.

Gifts to this Project can be sent to

MTW
P. O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368

Memo: SEN literacy project #94953