Story, story – US literacy campaign

Written by Teach Magazine Admin Friday, 05 March 2010 09:57

A new US literacy organization has begun work in Kenya. LitWorld concluded a 4-day workshop in Red Rose Academy, Kibera, last week with some impressive results. Pupils as young as Class 1 were telling, writing and reading their own stories at the end of the training session. New York-based founder and executive director, Mrs Pam Allyn, in a brief interview with Teach, strongly emphasises stories and ‘personal narratives’ as skills of individual empowerment. The project encourages both oral and written literacy, stating that ‘Even if you do not have a book to write on, you can still tell a story.’ Dating from 2007, the organization is already international and aims to advance basic literacy among the poorest com-munities. It is non-profit. Lit-World’s research shows the in-evitable link between illiteracy and misery. ‘Quality literacy education is the difference between life and death, health and sickness, prosperity and despair,’ states its website. The organization stresses teacher training and education, saying that the teacher is ‘the single most important thing in the classroom. It sees teachers as effective agents of change. Teachers are literacy leaders, hence, TALL But LitWorld goes beyond the formal classroom setting and offers special programmes at community, grass-root levels. It strongly promotes the role of personal narratives in advancing reading and writing skills. LitWorld also believes in fostering female leaders who can support girls in their schools and communities towards literacy and self expression.