From flatpack classrooms in flood-prone Bangladesh to a literacy app in Somaliland, this podcast discusses empowering adults through reading. Explore personal stories like Oliver James, UK's Read Easy program, and the impact of literacy on women's independence and economic opportunities.
Learning to read empowers adults, reduces poverty, and increases job opportunities worldwide.
Innovative initiatives like flatpack classrooms in Bangladesh and literacy apps in Somaliland are transforming adult education.
Deep dives
Improving Adult Literacy Through Personal Journey
Oliver James, a 35-year-old personal trainer from California, shared his journey of teaching himself to read on TikTok, starting with a quote book. His videos inspired over 300,000 followers, highlighting the struggles and triumphs of learning to read as an adult. Oliver's dedication led him to set a goal of reading 100 books, improving his literacy skills from a seven-year-old level to a ten-year-old, emphasizing the transformative power of reading.
Empowering Women in Bangladesh Through Literacy
In Bangladesh, where unstable sediment islands and frequent flooding hinder access to education, Friendship organization runs adult learning centers teaching women reading, writing, and math. The program addresses social factors like early marriage and lack of facilities, with teachers helping students progress from alphabet basics to sentences. Graduates like Rashida and Jehuwa have improved their livelihoods through literacy, gaining independence and economic opportunities.
Enhancing Literacy in Somaliland with Innovative Language App
In Somaliland, the Samir Foundation's app, Dariis, boosts literacy by teaching users to read Somali through levels of alphabet basics, stories, and a digital library. Women in Hargeisa, given phones with the app preloaded, have experienced increased independence and ambition through learning to read and write. The app's success, with over a million users achieving functional literacy, showcases the potential of technology to enhance literacy levels in regions with limited access to education.
Learning to read empowers people, reduces poverty and increases their job chances. Yet more than 700 miliion adults are illiterate, the majority of them women. We look at innovations to help adults learn how to read from flatpack classrooms in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh, to an app teaching tens of thousands in Somaliland. Plus how adults in the UK are improving their reading skills thanks to an army of volunteer teachers using a method developed in prison.
Presenter: Myra Anubi
Reporter/producer: Claire Bates
Series producer: Jon Bithrey
Editor: Tom Bigwood
Sound mix: Andrew Mills
(Image: Jahura Begum, Shabnur Akhter, Rashida Begum at Friendship class in Bangladesh, Friendship)
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