Daily Star - EU program helps Sidon women overcome illiteracy

By Mohammed Zaatari Daily Star staff

SIDON: Forty year-old Majida packed some pens and paper, carried her newborn baby and headed to the Sidon Social Learning Center, where she has been attending classes as part of a campaign to abolish illiteracy. The three-month campaign was organized by the Gathering of Sidon Civil Societies with the collaboration of the French organization Première Urgence and was funded by the European Union. Majida, as well as 15 other women aged between 20 and 35 years, have enrolled in the classes and have been eager to get the education they did not have the chance to pursue at a younger age. “I left school when I was 8 years old because I was failing constantly and now I am completely illiterate,” said Majida Her case however, is one of many in the southern coastal city, where 35 percent of the local population cannot read or write. “After conducting a survey we found that the biggest social problem Sidon families face is illiteracy and this problem is especially flagrant among women,” said Wassim Shmaysani, a supervisor from Première Urgence. Hoda Naqouzi, the education consultant at the Consolation and Social Services Organization in Sidon, explained that some women were completely illiterate while others had attended some classes when they were young but had forgotten most of what they learned. “Our campaign includes rehabilitating our students and reminding them of what they previously learned,” she said. Nonetheless, the diversity among the registered adult students has caused an obstacle for teachers. Naqouzi said that educators had to focus the first month on bringing everyone to a common level she evaluated at a fourth grade level. “The campaign’s students have been learning the Arabic alphabet and basic Arabic grammar. They have to attend classes three days a week for three months before they can fully write and read their language,” she said However, more obstacles have faced the women enrolled in the workshop than just forming words and sentences. Some have been attending the classes in secret for fear of their husbands’ reactions but most were constantly concerned about finding time to care for their children. The latter problem was solved by opening a children’s day care center within the learning facility. “These problems are caused by ignorance and a low level of culture,” Naqouzi said. In addition to language classes, the illiteracy campaign has been offering activities such as culture workshops and discussions around pressing topics. The general coordinator for the Gathering of Sidon Civil Societies, Majed Hamto said the campaign has been working on launching more women empowering activities such as workshops on managing family incomes, managing productive projects, conducting simple mathematical equations, health awareness for mothers and pregnant women, solving domestic disputes, public hygiene, etc. Hamto added that the gathering was also working on a youth awareness campaign to keep young people away from drugs and crime, and encourage them to engage in volunteer work. Until then, the voices of Sidon women repeating basic grammar rules will keep on echoing in the hallways of the Sidon Social Learning Center. “I love learning but I had to leave school 20 years ago to take care of my brothers and sisters,” said 33-year-old Badriyya al-Laham, adding that she has encountering difficulties in helping her children with their homework. “Better safe than sorry,” responded Aya al-Batesh, a fellow classmate.