What happens when you can’t read? If you’re reading this, it’s
likely that you don’t know. In this country we promote literacy, there are laws
requiring people to go to school, and even if you don’t enjoy curling up by the
fire with a novel, one of the classics, in hand, you know how to read. You can read
your bible. You know enough to fill out applications for a loan, a job, school,
or financial assistance. You can read a newspaper to know what is happening in
your community or in the world. You know how to open a bank account and write
checks to pay your bills.
But in many parts of the world learning to read and write is
reserved for the rich. Or for men. An
estimated 250 million women in Asia are illiterate. In some cultures, the norm
is that men are educated and women are not. That might work as long as the
woman marries well, and her husband takes care of here, their children, and the
finances. But what about someone like Dayita?
Her husband worked as a laborer to provide for their family,
but it wasn’t enough to make ends meet, and so Dayita found a job sewing
clothes to supplement her husband’s income. She faithfully deposited her meager
wages into the joint bank account, but even with her wages to help, there was
still never enough. So she worked harder, but there was still too much month
left at the end of the money. Her
husband managed the finances, and so certain things had a priority when it came
to being funded. Instead of feeding the family, Dayita’s man was feeding his
drinking habits.
Finally Dayita was able to open a bank account of her own,
but because she couldn’t read or write, she needed help filling out the deposit
or withdrawal slips. Luckily for Dayita, there were two women in her village
willing to do more than fill out the forms and show her where to make her mark.
Two women from the local Women’s Fellowship started a
literacy class. They teach two-hour sessions, using a bible based curriculum.
It took two months for Dayita to learn how to deal with the bank deposit and
withdrawal slips. Now she can do that
and more. She can read the names of buses and bus stations, and is learning about
the love of Jesus.
Dayita is one of the lucky ones; her husband supports her
efforts to learn to read and write. He no longer has access to her money to
support his drinking habit, but Dayita is still allowed to go to school. We may
take it for granted, but literacy is truly a precious gift, and the Gospel for
Asia ministry of literacy classes for women is truly changing lives.
Want to help? find out how
No comments:
Post a Comment