Learning to read never came too late for 5000

EASTERN PROVINCE It was all joy in Gatunda when over 5,000 adults, previous unable to read or write, graduated from Adventist-backed ADRA’s functional adult literacy program after accomplishing the first-year literacy programme. In a bid to eradicate illiteracy in the country ADRA-Rwanda in collaboration with ADRA-Denmark through its functional adult literacy program gave diplomas to 5,461 adults from Gatunda sector. During the graduation ceremony, ADRA-Denmark representative Bettina Ravn, appreciated the adult students who managed to join the literacy programme and urged them to continue the next two years remaining. “As you follow FAL classes your life is going to change profoundly because education is a key to many life opportunities,” Ravn said. “Keep it up for the better of your future and your country.” According to Abraham Katende, Nyagatare ADRA project manager, the courses offdered many things besides simply learning to read. “Apart from teaching the FAL students to come out illiteracy the design is all about teaching diverse issues including health and simple technologies and modern methods of farming.” Courses included practical farming lessons and theory technique. Kabera, one adult student in the class said that it was never too late to learn the important things in life, and because of the lessons, things could only get better. “My life has changed completely because before joining adult education I couldn’t even manage any single letter in the alphabet. It is a great joy to me and my wife that we have a certificate meaning we can read. This a great achievement in my family.” Currently ADRA-Rwanda has involved FAL in the five sectors of Gatunda, Rukomo, Karama, Mukama and Tabagwe where collectively 24,535 are awaiting to graduate in their FAL first year. Ends