Illiteracy Context in Haiti

Illiteracy is one of the greatest obstacles of the poor. Literacy is a basic right of all men and women. When one has access to this precious right, one is able to gain the necessary knowledge and competence to better function in society. Without this essential tool, a person remains marginalized and frustrated. Illiteracy constitutes a true obstacle to social and economic development. Where people do not have confidence in themselves, we cannot expect that they will have trust and confidence in others or that they will have the capacity to cooperate in order to build enterprise and generate income. Illiteracy then can be understood to be a condition that impedes human development. It is impossible to undertake sustainable development actions without placing priority on the problem of illiteracy.

When men and women learn to read, to write, and to use basic mathematics, they discover their own capacity for learning. This becomes a first step towards achieving self confidence. Confidence in self leads to confidence in others. This reciprocal and collective confidence is essential when undertaking sustainable development activities. In Haiti, the national illiteracy rate is estimated to be 56%. In rural areas where FIDA/pcH is present, this rate is between 70% and 80%. Literacy and adult training that includes dialogue and participation has become the centre of all FIDA/pcH programming as it is understood to be the most appropriate strategy for building a foundation for sustainable development.

It is essential for all training sessions to take into account the culture and experiences of the beneficiaries. Therefore, all training and any other form of communication must be undertaken in their native language. This demonstrates respect for each other and for each member within the development process. The actions and attitudes of those who are leading the development process must be an example of respect. When we offer respect, we become influential and more capable of alleviating frustration in favour of self confidence and confidence in others.

FIDA/pcH provides literacy training to adult members of agricultural cooperatives and farmer’s groups. These beneficiaries, between 18 and 55 years, are typically simple farmers living in rural communities in Haiti. Women usually constitute 52% to 56% of members. Women hold a special place in the social sector of Haiti, but they are otherwise marginalized in part because of illiteracy. We are motivated to conduct literacy training in order to correct a social injustice. Like the rest of the world, Haitians deserve the opportunity to become literate. Although this opportunity is emerging later in life, courses in adult education stimulate self awareness and self confidence in farmers, which allows them to improve their social and economic situation. We must give them the power to decide for themselves.

Literacy training programs are conducted each year in a three year program, with the participants divided into three levels. Level I includes those who have never attended any educational establishment. Level II includes those who have a rudimentary knowledge of reading, writing and mathematics. Level III includes those who have successfully completed Level I and Level II, or who already have the prerequisite knowledge. The length of each level is 9 months, 2 hours per day (10 hours per week). In Level I, sessions address basic knowledge in communication and mathematics. The other two levels apply the concepts learned in Level I to focus on a series of themes relating to social and economic transformation. All subjectsare discussed with the aim of achieving enhanced comprehension and knowledge. Specific sessions relating to health, protecting the environment, agriculture and cooperative development are discussed both theoretically and practically. This enables participants to connect their learning to their environment.

Strategy to Eliminate Literacy

The illiteracy elimination program is a dynamic training program that has several actors, including the literacy monitor. These individuals are chosen from the community and receive appropriate training that equips them to facilitate the training of their peers. The training of monitors is focused on a strategy that stresses the importance of dialogue. The monitor becomes a facilitator and the adult participant is the subject of their training. They are placed at the center of their training. The method is based on their own experiences as an adult. Dialogue steers them towards the discovery of new knowledge about objects, actions, causalities and events that are found in their own immediate environment. They have the opportunity to reflect, discuss and propose solutions based on their own experiences. This is why the training of monitors is extremely important.

The most important tool in the training process is the  Kreyol language; the language that all Haitians speak and understand. This is a point of demonstrating respect for the beneficiaries. One cannot assist another to learn effectively in a language they are not familiar with. Utilizing the Haitian language improves learning. The student understands automatically and learns more quickly.

The experience of life in a literacy centre, though it is short (2 hours per day) is an experience of living together. Psychologically, the influence of the group affects the individual. The participants begin to learn of their strengths and their weaknesses. They also learn to identify the worth of others. In fact, they seek to increase their value, taking direction from the monitor who is working as facilitator. This is why the proper training of monitors plays such a significant role in the operation of the literacy centres. Through the process of distributing tasks and responsibilities to various groups within the centres, there is a lesson in leadership and in serving others.

As well as being the facilitator in adult learning, the literacy monitor is the brain of the centre. Monitors are humble, patient, responsible, and respectful of others. They truly must (and do) embody all of these qualities. The success of the centre depends in large part on the monitor being a model for the learners, and on the learners having confidence in them. It is a great challenge and a major responsibility to be a literacy monitor.

It is natural to assume that each learner has a personal motivation for participating in the learning process. In literacy training for adults, there is also a collective motivation; all of the participants wish for the ability to identify and write their first and last names. Much of the frustration of an illiterate individual rests upon the ability to carry out the one simple act that most of the world can; that of signing a document. The day that a man or woman overcomes this obstacle, they begin to discover a miraculous feeling of personal possibility. It is a most important victory over a deeply embedded uncertainty.

Much change comes when a participant is able to write their name. Typically, the achiever will find any possible occasion to celebrate their victory. One of the occasions that simply cannot be resisted is writing their name for the pleasure of their spouses and children. In Haiti, when a signature is required and the individual cannot write, they make an “X” in place of their name. It is precisely through writing their name that much of their frustration disappears. This is also why, in the literacy centres, the first activities carried out by the monitor involve the first name of each participant. Firstly, they identify their names; then step by step, they begin to write their full names. For the observer, it is a most rewarding and moving experience.

At the end of the training process, it is important to evaluate knowledge gained and to note the achievements made. For learners, the greatest moment is the graduation. It is the ultimate celebration of their efforts and their sacrifice. This activity is also part of the learning process. It is easy to observe the positive dynamic of the group that is preparing for the graduation ceremony. Through initiatives and decisions taken in the group, one can easily identify the grass roots leaders. Their capacity and creativity is clearly evident.

Literacy is a mission wherein the goal is the transformation of the human person in order to bring about true socioeconomic transformation of communities. An integrated literacy program assures a strong foundation for all future development action.

by Pierre Richard Pierre, Country Coordinator, Haiti

A message from Betsy Wall, Executive Director in Port au Prince on Thursday March 18, 2010

Greetings to you all from the tent city at Wall’s International Guest House! Although I have yet to see how it withstood the torrential downpour that is just easing up, it is at least still standing. We all are thinking of the thousands upon thousands who are hovering under sheets and tarps, enduring drenching chill rather than risk sleeping  in their home (if they still have one). The fear has not diminished. Streets are closed off in the evening as people are preparing “for bed” in the streets. There is a proverb that goes, “sleep is the little brother to death”. It has become scriptural.

I am seeing a desperation that I have not quite experienced in all of my decades in Haiti. Young men follow me, to open a door, to roll down a window, to tell me my sweater is caught in the door and plead for a dollar or two for this one second of “service”.  It was my first tremor of sadness.

I expected that it would first hit me at the guest house but there was no time. The 21 guests, a medical team from Alabama, continually thanked me for “letting them” be here. Of course, it is not me to be thanked but for me to be thankful that they are choosing to stay in such a situation but they are overjoyed… it is so much more than they had anticipated. They are eager to chat and to learn, as this is their first trip to Haiti. They are inquisitive and ask many questions: “What can we as Christians do for Haiti?”. I tell them in one word… “AGRICULTURE”. They were intrigued and pressed me to show them what a co-operative looks like. So today we went to St. Marc. It was a great day and I believe they are inspired to make such a difference in Haiti.

Yesterday, I spent time at the pcH yard office. It is really quite impressive. The pictures do not do it justice. It was a wonderful meeting. The staff was jubilant; less to see me and more because of all the activity that is going on. They were so thankful for the laptop and the cameras, although they could use three more computers, as the ones brought in January are under the rubble. Pierre Richard, his face shining like a happy child, speaks of the energy and motivation of the evaluation team in Duchity as well as the eagerness of the leaders and members of that community to participate in the assessment activities. We will be travelling there on Wednesday and returning with the team on Friday. I am very much looking forward to this. Of note is that the recent health survey developed last fall (for Fon Batis) is being incorporated into the assessment.

They are also very excited about the partnership with Oxfam Quebec, who is giving us office space at no cost for one year. In addition, Oxfam will continue to support agricultural inputs for one year, such as seeds, goats and chickens; and have provided training to pcH and farmers on raising goats. We will distribute these to Fon Batis, Delis and Breli. The following have been received and distributed lately: 28 household kits, 28 boxes of water, 300 bache (tarps), 2,222 hygiene packs, 300 mattresses, 600 food kits, and 300 sheets.

Oxfam has also accepted the two proposals for soil protection and irrigation for small vegetable gardens. The value of these projects is $250,000. They must be executed within 6 months. Launch is expected by or before April 15. We look forward to the implementation of these plans.

Agronome Yves Charles joined us to report on his visit to Zoranger, a new area past Titayen. We used some seed (200 marmit beans, 400 marmit pitimi, 200 marmit corn, 15,000 root manioc/cassava) received from Oxfam Quebec to help about 250 farmers. They are not a cooperative yet but they are so very eager to have training. Pierre Richard then emphasized that ALL cooperatives are pleading for training. We estimate that it costs $6,000 per cooperative for six months of training and follow up. Activities would include training for all committees as well as for general board members, business plan development, accountability, etc.

To add to the exciting news of the group in Zoranger was the announcement of a new model of cooperative in Fon Batis to manage agricultural tools.  It started with a little committee of 10 people and now there are 197 members! They have made money already by renting out the tools (about 40,000 GDE after five months). The growth in membership, as well as return, is an astonishing precedent.

Tomorrow we will be meeting with Dr. Yuri Zelenski and Dr. Jean Claude Cadet at University Hospital to discuss possible alliances in health care/agricultural production. In the afternoon, we will be meeting with representatives of Light of The World Ministries about the “food for orphans”. No real weekend plans yet. Normally I spend the weekend organizing sections of the guest house. I did this yesterday morning…organizing mattresses, etc and moving on to the large container where all manner of things are stored in typical Haitian fashion. I am sure I sweated off five pounds!

It has been very hot although the downpour has cooled us all off a bit…except for the spiritual fervour whipped up by this evening’s prayer meeting. A number of us are still up and there is a “riddle party” going on. I am not good with riddles.

Good night to you all.

Betsy

Last week the FAO announced its worry that immediate agriculture needs were not being adequately funded, there is also evidence of rising prices for basic foods such as rice. Following up on these reports, Inter-Press Service reports today on the likelihood of an emerging food crisis in post-earthquake Haiti:

“Everybody needs to understand the need to act right now, otherwise the planting season will be lost,” Geri Benoit, Haiti’s ambassador to Italy and the Rome-based UN food agencies, told IPS.

IPS reports that is not just the FAO but NGOs on the ground sounding the alarm:

“Food could become the next catastrophe,” says anti-poverty NGO ActionAid. “People affected by the earthquake leaving urban areas, a forthcoming food price hike and a long-term underinvestment in rural areas and agriculture could all spell disaster again.”

The benefits of investing in agriculture are immense, as IPS reports:One dollar invested in agriculture will produce 40 to 60 dollars worth of food in Haiti, FAO estimates.On the other hand, the consequences of not doing enough are enormous, as Beniot told IPS:“you miss the planting season and for us this means you lose 60 percent of food production.”

http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/relief-and-reconstruction-watch/earthquake-causing-another-food-crisis/

Centre for Economic Research and Policy Research