Adults learn to read and write to support children's schooling

The full support and involvement of parents and community members is vital to each new school’s success. So Plan helps to create and train parents’ associations and community leadership groups so that they can support children's schooling. 

Both teachers and parent-teacher associations have been trained on how to mobilize the community to support school activities, with key input from a group of retired French teachers. To help things to flow smoothly, dozens of youth government representatives have been trained in conflict resolution.

Sponsored children’s parents and village leaders are learning to read and write so they can support more. In Autumn 2004, Plan and a local nongovernmental organization in Niger (Nigerien) launched a literacy campaign in the villages of Dosso and Tillabery. The communities selected nearly 50 villagers with prior schooling for training as literacy teachers. 

More than 2,000 adults are learning to read and write at the 72 adult literacy centers in Dosso. Already, an average of 55 adults per sponsored children’s village have enrolled in a literacy class.