Mothers Union marks International Literacy Day

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Today is International Literacy Day. It exists to raise awareness of the importance of literacy and to remind everyone about the global situation where 796 million adults lack basic literacy skills and two-thirds of them are women.

Literacy is essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, achieving gender equality, and ensuring sustainable development, peace and democracy. Literate parents are more likely to send their children to school and literate societies are better geared to meet pressing development issues.

Literacy has been central to the work of Mothers' Union for many years. Since 2000 they have run literacy programmes in Malawi, Burundi and Sudan (now including South Sudan), benefiting over 70,000 people. It has been so successful that training in financial and small business skills has been added, establishing Mothers' Union's literacy and financial education programme (LFEP for short).

Mrs Nyau Arop is 40 years old and was born in Upper Nile State in South Sudan. She comes from a poor family which meant that she could not pursue her education. She joined Mothers' Union's literacy and financial education programme in November 2010.

"I have never been before in any school," she says. "This is my first time to get such an opportunity in my life. I could not get a job or start a business because I could not read and write. Before I joined this programme, I could not talk to a gathering especially if it had educated people. I felt intimidated. I also was feeling that I am not getting any job because of lack of education in my life. But now I am very confident because I now know a few things. I am now proud of myself and my husband is very supportive and he is encouraging me daily."

Mrs Arop is not the only one to benefit from Mothers' Union's LFEP in Sudan and South Sudan. Thanks to a grant from Comic Relief, over the next five years it is expected that as many as 28,000 illiterate women and men (70% women) will become literate and numerate.

Women in Sudan and South Sudan face huge obstacles. 50% are illiterate, trapped in poverty, and lacking opportunities to improve their lives. Mothers' Union has over 15,000 members across the two countries who are active in their local communities, for example in HIV/AIDS projects, and campaign for women's rights. They have worked with Mothers' Union in the UK since the 1930s and are working with us to deliver the literacy and financial education programme.

Priscilla Achol Malek from Twic Warrap State in South Sudan is 49 and has eight children. She was the first person to register for LEFP in her diocese. She said: "This literacy is more than what I thought. Initially I thought they will only teach us about how to read and write. Our trainers have taught us how to take care of our environment, hygiene, and nutrition. And they are telling us that they will help us learn more new things. This makes me enjoy attending school because we even have opportunities to talk during the learning sessions and also encourage each other."

For more information go to: www.themothersunion.org/international_literacy_day.aspx