Parternships South-North in Education
Literacy and the empowerment of Women in Senegal
Roch Harvey, Uniterra
Senegal, much like many other African countries, has an illiteracy rate of more than 60%. The majority of illiterate people are women. The Uniterra program has chosen to work in Senegal on informal education—particularly of women—in either their national language or in French. According to Mariétou Dia, a Uniterra specialist working on education in Senegal, literacy must not be an end in of itself, but rather a way to put people in control of their own development.
Literacy for people
This approach strives to equip individuals. It is very different from practices in the past where functional literacy simply meant giving people the technical vocabulary pertinent to their training. In conjunction with national literacy organizations, the goal is to encourage learners to participate in professional training, learn a trade, or participate in entrepreneurial management training, for example. In other words, target the strengths and skills of an individual and assist them in social and professional learning. A similar working method requires an element of participation. Training programs are developed based on the needs of women, in line with their own goals, and the impact that literacy will have on their lives.
Education and women’s rights
According to Mariétou Dia, “until recently, international cooperation organizations only dealt with practical aspects of women’s issues: for example, facilitating their work by providing equipment such as improved well systems, or the installation of flour mills. This approach had some positive effects, but it continued to reinforce women’s traditional roles. In Senegal, the CECI is one of the first international NGOs to work on strategic and political issues around the status of African women, whether it be issues around rights and citizenship, equity, or the sharing of power in social and economic spheres, the family unit and civil society.” Uniterra’s national partners such as the Coalition nationale des opérateurs en alphabétisation, also carry out political advocacy work that concentrates on encouraging the state to recognize informal education.
Taking the marginalized out of marginalization
Informal education and literacy must lead people to develop a better level of employability, eliminate marginalization and integrate all citizens into society.
In accordance with the same philosophy, the Uniterra program is now working with Senegalese organizations to create informal education programs that reinforce the rights and the power of women: the power to make decisions in the family, the power to study, and the power to succeed in life.