Literacy Program

We had a wonderful visit to thie Literacy Class in action in Steung Mean Chey. The Branch president there was concerned for the members of his Branch that struggle because they cannot read. He felt like he could lift them if they could be helped to learn to read so with the help of two professional teachers who are also branch members he has started a literacy class there. They meet 4 times a week at the church for classes that last about 2 hours. There are members of all who attend including young kids who have not been able to go to school. The hope is that when they catch up with grade level they will be able to go to regular schools. They don't get to school because they live far away and parents have no way to get the to school because they are very poor and have no transportation. Some of the class members are senior citizens and when they were asked if they wouldn't rather have audio tapes given to them that they could listen to they said absolutely not!  One sister held up her index finger that was black and blue and said that it came from picking morning glory and tying it in bundles to sell in the market. It is hard work and she makes very little money doing it. If she can read she can follow patterns and sew items to sell that will make it easier to earn a living.  Another sister said she gave a talk in Church and was able to read a scripture for the first time. (Big grin). The class will last for 4 months and the hope is to then start a new session so they can keep improving. The great thing is that the Church in Salt Lake is watching this class as a potential model for other literacy programs in other countries as well as more classes here in Cambodia.