Literacy: Especially for Women
According to the World Atlas website, literacy is defined as: "a critical piece of individual progress, social development, and economic health. Having the ability to read and write provides more educational and employment opportunities to the population, allowing people to increase their household incomes and bring their family out of low-income conditions. This skill has also been tied to improved public health conditions and increased political participation." The literacy rate in Kenya is 85% for males and 78.2% for females. Of all the African countries, Kenya ranks 15th, While progress has been made over the decades, there is room for improvement. The Foundation will direct its funding and energy toward improving literacy rates, especially for women.
Growing Stronger Every Week.
After sending out a community bulletin to gauge interest, we were thrilled to see 59 women attend our very first ELKF Literacy Meeting. Based on the group's feedback, classes were set for Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM each week.
ELKF closely monitored attendance and planned to wait about 1-2 months to establish a core group of regular participants. In the meantime, a community center was being built and we continued welcoming everyone who showed up. We stayed flexible and excited to see the program grow.
Building a Strong Community
A dedicated group of 50 women has come together to meet weekly as part of the ELKF Literacy Program. As the community center was completed, they now have a more permanent space to gather and grow. ELKF gladly donated tables for this space.
These incredible women took the lead, brainstorming what matters most to them and shaping the direction of their learning. This collaborative spirit is at the heart of Empowering Livelihood Kenya: Entitling these communities to decide how they want to grow, learn, and thrive.
Celebrating Progress & Looking Ahead
As the ELKF Literacy Program expands, the women are diving into the County Curriculum, discussing business plans, and empowering each other through open conversations. Beyond learning, they’re setting an example for their children by demonstrating the value of education and self-growth. The group have been given the opportunity to take a final exam. We’re hopeful that, as more women continue to graduate, the entire group will successfully complete this milestone together.
We are incredibly proud to support this inspiring journey and look forward to seeing how these educated women continue to shape their futures and uplift their communities!
