Literacy to the Mothers: Opening New Doors, Creating New Horizons.
Literacy programs enhance the ability of individuals and groups to express themselves orally, in writing or in other ways. Literacy benefits both individuals and their communities. Learning to read boosts self-esteem and provides important new skills. Moreover, the effects of literacy often extend beyond personal benefits. From 2007, IWEN has been trying to enhance literacy and empower marginalized Tharu in rural areas of Nepal, where less than half of the population can read. IWEN decided to work with especially Tharu females as they are most deprived from opportunities and are submissive due to their history illiteracy and ignorance of their rights.
From last four years, Inter-cultural Women Educational Network (IWEN) has been providing educational and health support to Tharu bonded girls of Ganga Praspur Village of Dang through its Nepal partner Creating Possibilities (CP). Last Year, the mothers of these IWEN students requested literacy classes. IWEN granted the fund as this fits into IWEN’s mission goals and wanted to see these mothers independent and literate.
One hundred and fifty mothers joined the class which started in December, 2009 and will be finished in June, 2010.
The outcome of the class is remarkable. The mothers who used to be shy now talk fearlessly and are putting forward their thoughts confidently. They have changed! The class not only covers writing and reading Nepali but also teaches about health, family planning, and the environment. The course has a holistic approach.
The math was very difficult for them; matters such as family planning were never discussed as it was seen to be culturally unacceptable; cheating was common etc … but now they work as a group. For example, in one village they had no electricity. Their husbands made many requests to the concerned authorities but could not get their village electricity supplied. Finally the empowered mothers went as a group, protested peacefully and the village got the electricity. Slowly they are emerging as a female power. This is what literacy is doing for these once illiterate mothers.
On my regular monitoring visit I met the mothers, which was so exciting for me because I could see a real difference in them. They are now able to write and read and could do calculations. They are empowered!
At first, I started to talk with Sita Chaudhary. She was really transformed. The conversation went like this.
Dinesh: “How are you feeling about the class?”
Sita: “It’s really important to us. Before, we had no any idea about the education. Now we are aware of many many things.
Dinesh: “So what do you know?”
Sita: “I can read Nepali books, I know about family planning, about health…...can calculate when I sell my vegetables…"
Dinesh: “Besides that...”
Sita: “I know the difference between true and false. I can talk with you. Now I know the importance of IWEN’s mothers’ group.
Then I talked with Manju. She was the one who always requested me to do something for the IWEN’s mothers’ group."
Dinesh: “So Manju, how is the literacy class?”
Manju: “ It is good. It has taught us many things. Many new things we now know. Before we were like animals but now we know that we can do the new things.”
Dinesh: “What are the new things you know?”
Manju, “ We were shy about contraceptives; so we always had many children… now we know about it. Next, we were illiterate so in market people used to cheat us. Now we know how to do calculations so they cannot cheat us anymore. We know that we have to register the birth date of our children, the marriage date, etc.. we don’t know our birth date because our parents never did this. So now we can do it.
Siladevi, who is above 50 years old, also shared her experiences about the literacy class. On my other meetings, she hardly spoke with me. She used to come and sit, saying nothing. After attending the literacy class, she has changed lot.
Dinesh: “How are you?”
Siladevi: “I’m fine and how are you?” [This response in itself was quite a step for Siladevi]
Dinesh: “I’m fine. Do you like the class?”
Siladevi: “Oh yes. I have learned to write and read… I can write my name and I can speak in meetings now. If I have a problem with my health, I go to the health post but as you know there are no medicines but at least I can find out what to do. Now I can sell my vegetable. My husband respects me more now."
There are many direct and indirect benefits of these classes for each of these mothers. Literacy class encapsulates the various social benefits; we can sum up these in the following categories:
Mothers’ Literacy and Health
• Literacy is very important in the approach to tackling health problems. Before sickness was seen as a sin or associated with witchcraft. After attending the class, mothers have started going to health posts and have started to visit health clinics. They are aware about nutrition, food, child care, etc.
• Literacy affects cultural and traditional beliefs which impact on health for instance our student, Sita Chaudhary, was sick and before literacy classes her mom used to take her to the witch doctor. Last month her mom talked about her daughter’s sickness to us and we brought her to Kathmandu for treatment. Now, Sita is well and does not have to visit a witch doctor. As well we can see a clear pattern of increasing knowledge of HIV/AIDs among literacy participants. Before these classes the mothers were not privy to such HIV/AIDS education.
• Literacy classes have affected development practices of mothers, including the uptake of family planning, immunization and preventive health care and family health care.
Mothers’ Literacy and Childrens' Education
• As well as taking better care of their child's health, educated mothers have been more likely to send their children to school. We have noted increased school attendance when the mothers' attended literacy classes.
• Mothers now can help with their child's education.
Mothers’ Literacy and Gender Equality
• From many parts of the world, there is evidence of women gaining access to and challenging ‘male’ domains through participation in adult literacy programs. Women have gained awareness about domestic violence. There are many instances of social mobilization due to literacy programs, tackling gender issues at a community level account for the campaigns against alcohol in many villages.
• Mothers now participate as equals in meetings with males; they raise voices against women suppression and do the different awareness programs for themselves.
Mothers’ Literacy and Social Development
• Literacy has long term positive effects to the Tharu society. Our mothers have become constructive, active and motivated. They are aware of social problems within their community.
• Alcoholism is rampant in these areas. But now the literate mothers are convincing and teaching the males, their husbands and children, about the bad effects of it, and the consumption of local alcohol is decreasing.
“Watching letters form a meaning”
Dinesh Raj Sapkota
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