Tackling chronically low literacy
Malawi
Temwa Community Literacy is a project in Malawi, where one in three adults are illiterate and only 7% of women have completed primary education.
BFSS gave Temwa a grant of £19,816 to provide opportunities for children and the wider community to improve their reading and writing skills through reading camps, community awareness activities and improved library services.
The project began in 2020 and by autumn 2022 Temwa supported 22 Reading Camps attended by 1,600 primary school-aged learners, far exceeding the project’s target of 1,000. There are also three Village Reading Groups providing literacy and broader mentoring support to young women. A group of 48 voluntary mentors have been fundamental to the three-year project’s success.
Training for mentors focused on skills for effective reading instruction, helping learners develop confidence and using educational games to engage learners.
Impact:
In December, 264 learners took part in local spelling bee competitions to encourage greater community interest in the educational activities available. 80% of the participants demonstrated brilliant progress. The number of library visits have also greatly increased. 93% of children attending Reading Camps passed their end of year exams last year.
Temwa has engaged with governors in schools to help embed their work. As a result, 80% of the schools they work with have adopted initiatives aimed
at improving retention and enrolment rates in their schools.
“I am now able to read and write since I started attending Reading Camp sessions, which I could not have achieved as quickly otherwise.” Tabitha Manda, pupil
“Through the Reading Camps, with the help of my fellow mentors and teachers, seven out of every ten learners are able to read and write.” Samuel Kamanga, Reading Camp Mentor