LITERACY THROUGH POETRY PILOT
HIGHLIGHTS
| Country | Yemen |
| Funding | World Bank Culture and Poverty Unit |
| Pilot Dates | August 2002-December 2003 |
| Target Population | Adult women interested in acquiring literacy |
| Outreach | 154 learners in 9 classes (two phases) completed the course |
| Costs per learner | Phase 1 - $44. Phase 2 - $33 |
DESCRIPTION
Literacy through Poetry was designed for rural women in Yemen who want to learn
to read and write but are not interested in a basic education curriculum. It
explores potential links between traditional arts and effective learning strategies
by utilizing learners’ own oral poetic traditions to teach literacy skills.
Including poetry not only affirms intangible heritage; it develops critical
thinking skills. The pilot addresses the questions: will a focus on oral traditions
encourage women to attend literacy classes, and will affirming their traditional
voice empower women?
Adapting a Freirean and community literature approach, texts were created
from classroom discussion and poetry and proverbs generated in class. Texts,
written on large pieces of paper, were pasted on the wall and reproduced in
large type. At the end of the course, each learner received a bound collection
of the texts generated in her class, a “book” that she helped compose.
Outcomes surpassed expectations. Drop out rates were low, at 19% and 26%; 72%
of learners in the first 5 classes could read and write new material, 37% fluently
and 35% by sounding out words; 63% of learners in the second phase, which met
for only 6 months, could read and write new material. Empowerment indicators
included greater respect shown to learners by their family members and increased
community interest in the education of adult women. Learners developed a new
interest in their children’s education and actively participated in national
elections. In two communities, they initiated health interventions. A major
success with implications to the feasibility of the pilot is its participatory
component. The training of new teachers for Phase 2 of the pilot was conducted
entirely by local trainers. This project was listed as an example of best practice
in the World Bank’s Beijing +10 report and chosen by The Center of Arab
Women for Training and Research as one of 15 model development projects that
promote women’s empowerment.
LINKS
In Yemen, Fighting Illiteracy Through Poetry. National Geographic News, 2004.
Yemen Literacy through Poetry Project, The World Bank, 2007
Literacy Through Poetry: A Pilot Project for Rural Women in the Republic of Yemen (Najwa Adra). Women's Studies Quarterly, 2004 (pdf file)
For further information contact:
Dr. Najwa Adra
22 High Pine
Glen Cove, NY 11542, USA
Tel: 1-516-676-9157
Email: najwa@optonline.net