GARIZIM LITERACY PROGRAMS
For adults and young learners
WHY?
The United Nations defines illiteracy as the inability to read and write a simple message in any language. In the context of Cameroon where English and French are the two official languages, a person is considered illiterate if they are unable to read or write simple messages in English or French. These can be learned in school or through public and privately owned functional literacy centers. In Cameroon, the adult literacy rate (age 15-24) by 2018 was estimated at 77.07%, higher in males 82.63%, against 71.59% for females. The country ranks 115th amongst other countries. however, this level of literacy is unevenly distributed across the regions. The three northern regions of Cameroon have the lowest levels of literacy for any one of the two official languages as follows: Far North (30.7%), North (35.2%), and Adamawa(42.2%). These regions are also plagued with terrorist conflicts, notably the Islamic sect Boko Haram which has led to increased insecurity and poverty. Furthermore religious and cultural beliefs are not always in favor of education, particularly the education of the girl child.
The Northern regions are also obviously the lowest in terms of the number of children enrolled in schools. Out of 100 children aged 6-14, 75 are in school, 11 have been to school at some point but dropped out, and 4 have never seen the four walls of a classroom. Meanwhile, amongst those who have been to school or are still in school, a good percentage have not acquired the minimum levels of competency in reading, writing, and counting as required by the SDG4 target.
For all these reasons, there is a need to act. Our literacy and refresher classes programs therefore have two targets:
reaching out to out-of-school youths and adults who never had the chance to learn how to read, write and count.
reaching out to young pupils who though in school, have difficulties with reading, writing, and counting.
HOW?
PERMANENT PROGRAMS
ADULT LITERACY CLASS
(IN PROJECT) our goal is to train 50 adult literacy participants each year on basic reading, writing, and counting skills. Classes will take place once every week and will be scheduled with respect to the participant's and volunteers' availability.
SATURDAY READING CLUBS
We partner with READING CLASSROOMS, a non-profit organization based in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon to organize an annual reading contest. In 2021 we had 74 participants from the Adamawa region accompanied by 2 volunteers.
Our goal is to host Saturday reading clubs for young learners to read African and world stories with good morals and lessons. This will help combat the reading crises observed in the world, foster a culture of reading and help ameliorate the reading and general knowledge of the participants.
PONCTUAL PROGRAMS
PREPACEP
"PREPACEP” is a two weeks program designed to help pupils of CM2 (primary six) prepare for their end-of-year official examinations. The idea of the program came from the observed poor performance of pupils in their end-of-year exams mainly as a result of poor follow-up at home. Most parents and elder siblings are unable to help their children with homework or studying at home either because they themselves do not know how to, or are simply ignorant of the importance. PREPACEP takes place during the Easter break to help pupils tackle their main difficulties in various subjects.
PARAN
Like the former, PARAN is a 4 weeks refresher program for pupils of CE1-CM1 (primary 3-5) to help them get to the minimum level of competency in reading, writing, and numeracy required for their class. The program is run with the aid of volunteers for the main subjects. PARAN is held during part of the summer break.
ACHIEVEMENT STATS
115
PREPACEP
PARTICIPANTS
80
PARAN
PARTICIPANTS
74
READING CLASSROOMS
PARTICIPANTS
