The African adventure may be over for a few months, but as promised, here are a few stories of lives improved, and hope restored by the Acholi Adult Literacy programme.
It was so encouraging to hear what it difference it makes - just being able to read some signs, write your name, even know how to hold a pencil - things we take so much for granted, but are not givens at all, in so many parts of the world. Tis an honour to be involved in touching one of those locations, even as lightly as we are.
Betty
Married with 9 children from age
4 to 16, one of whom is a nephew who she
cares for, 4 of the children are in the
children’s literacy classes that have just been started up: Peter age 11, Janet
age 9, Richard age 6 and Ronald also age 6 (the nephew)
Widowed and looking after 7
dependents – 2 children, 4 grandchildren, and 1 other child of similar age to
the grandchildren, Agnes has a son, David who is
currently unemployed and has just started attending the adult literacy classes.
She also has a disabled daughter who is unable to work
It was so encouraging to hear what it difference it makes - just being able to read some signs, write your name, even know how to hold a pencil - things we take so much for granted, but are not givens at all, in so many parts of the world. Tis an honour to be involved in touching one of those locations, even as lightly as we are.
Betty
In the morning Betty works in the
quarry and in the afternoon she makes beads which she uses to make the triple
strand and the long and extra-long necklaces.
Betty started at the adult
literacy classes in Jan 2015, but has been very intermittent in attendance due
to having to work etc. She got to P5 level at school before she had to leave
but has forgotten most of it
Attending the literacy classes is
helping her to remember her previous
schooling and now she is able to read signs when she is out which makes her
feel much safer than she used to.
She wishes that she could do more
classes, but she has to work as there are so many in the family to look after
Agnes
Agnes works at the quarry and
also makes beads which are used for the long necklaces and woven bracelets. The
beads are small and she is finding them hard to do as her eyesight isn’t so
good.
Agnes has never been to school so
the adult literacy classes are the first education she has ever had. Now she
knows how to hold a pen properly and write her name. It makes her feel good and
she wants to learn some more. Now that David also does the classes he is able
to help her a little at home with practicing her writing
John
Married with 9 children (6 alive,
3 passed away), John works in the quarry as does his
wife.
John is Christine’s dad.
Christine and a brother attend the literacy kids classes
John got to P5 when a child
before having to leave school due to LRA troubles.
He wants to go to college to
train to be a builder, so the adult literacy classes are the first steps to
realizing that dream.
Morris
Married, with 7 children ages
ranging from 21 to 3 months, Morris works in the quarry as
does his wife. His wife also does beads
Morris went to P5 at school when
a child, and through the adult literacy classes, which he has now attended for
2 months, he has learnt to write his name etc, and to read signs etc. It is
helping his schooling to come back to him
Morris would like to be a
carpenter and so is glad that the literacy classes are increasing his chances
of getting to college, and of having a small business.
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