Mothers' literacy Program
|
Be Part of Her Dream
A Project to Benefit Mothers and Their Daughters The goal of our Be Part of Her Dream project is to provide basic literacy training, promote financial inclusion and encourage self-reliance for the mothers of HIO girls. Poor and illiterate mothers have little strategy for improving their lives and those of their children. These marginalized women are not poor because they lack initiative; they lack resources, opportunity and education. Unless they have opportunities for improved healthcare and education, their struggle with endemic, grinding poverty will continue to consume their lives.
Through an innovative program of direct-cash transfers and basic literacy classes, Be Part of Her Dream helps mothers become effective leaders and role models for their daughters. First Cash-Transfer Program of Its Kind in Nepal Be Part of Her Dream established the first cash-transfer program of its kind in Nepal in hopes of alleviating profound poverty for many single, illiterate mothers with no dependable means of support.The core of the program gives small cash-transfers to poor women, creating a modest, though vital, base of financial stability. We can create a safety net where none now exists by providing a culturally sensitive program to help 50 mothers break an endless cycle of profound poverty. Obtaining Nepali Citizenship Each woman is guided through obtaining Nepali citizenship in order to open a personal bank account. We provide each woman with a cash-transfer of $25/month, for two years. This stipend allows for the loss of income for the two hours they spend in class. The mothers have chosen to save their stipends instead of using the money for living expenses. They have the desire, but can’t justify the work time lost to learning. Regular attendance for the literacy class is an agreed-upon contingency for receiving their cash-transfers. Each mother is instructed in how to use the CLASSMATE PC computers configured with innovative, early-learning Waterford software set up at our Bal Kendra learning center. Instruction for Basic Literacy in Nepali and English The mothers’ class provides instruction for basic literacy in Nepali and English language, math skills, digital-fluency using our computer lab, regular health check-ups, vocational counseling and a supportive network. At the end of two years, Be Part of Her Dream mothers will have saved $650. Since we already sponsor their daughters' education, HIO is uniquely positioned to monitor the mothers’ saving and progress. Their daughters become project partners by helping their mothers practice reading and writing in school and at home. Be Part of Her Dream provides ongoing mentoring for the participating mothers after completion of their training. How You Can Help The two-year pilot program, which ends in April 2018, was made possible by a generous grant from Dining for Women. Nearly all of the mothers currently involved are enthusiastic about continuing with their education. Most will have reached a second-grade level and are eager to learn more. Our budget for providing additional literacy classes for the 50 women in the project is $20,000. Your generous support of a continuing women's literacy project would allow our mothers to pursue this life-changing experience. |
In the mothers' class, daughters assist their mothers in learning.
A math lesson in the mothers' education class at Bal Kendra.
Dhan Kumari had never held a pencil before her first mothers' literacy class.
|