Literacy Training

A Place to Learn…

Literacy class at Kassab Center April 2011

For Darfuri women, there are few opportunities to learn to read and write. In Darfur’s IDP camps, illiteracy further limits women’s income-generating options. Many women are now heads of their households and must support their children and elderly parents.

At DPDO’s Women’s Centers in Kassab and Abu Shouk camps, women who have struggled their whole lives with illiteracy are learning to read, write, and do math.

DPDO provides salaries for teachers, textbooks, notebooks, and writing materials for literacy classes.

What’s New?

Kassab Center began literacy training in Spring 2010. Women of all ages attend morning classes five mornings per week in their newly renovated classroom space.  Through April 2011, 60 women have graduated Level 1 Reading and Writing (Arabic).  Many began a second level of training that includes basic math and advanced grammar.  Some graduates have begun small business ventures. 200 students are currently engaged in the program. Ten teachers conduct classes 5 days every week. Additional textbooks and classroom supplies are always needed.

In March 2010, 68 Abu Shouk women graduated from the first level of literacy training. Due to lack of funding, Abu Shouk Center was closed in March 2011.

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