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IADLET PROJECT -UPDATE REPORT

HiH EA PARTICIPATION ON THE 2016 INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY CELEBRATIONS.

Learners in Kajiado County following the event.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

International Literacy Day is celebrated every 8th of September to commemorate the day

UNESCO set aside to focus on raising awareness on the importance of literacy in human

development following the World Conference of Ministers held in Tehran, Iran in 1965.

International Literacy Day brings together Governments, Multi and Bilateral Organizations,

NGOs, Private sectors, Communities, teachers, learners and experts in the field to reflect on the

progress so far made and challenges faced deeply “Reading the Past to Write the Future ” as

this year’s UNESCO ILD Theme aptly stated.

During this occasion, stakeholders and learners themselves take stock of the contribution

literacy has made in the growth and development of human resource of the country and also

seek to sensitize the world populace on their rights for social and human development.

As part of the stakeholders implementing the Integrated Adult Literacy and Enterprise Training

in Makueni and Kajiado counties, Hand in Hand EA joined other stakeholders in this year’s

celebrations whose theme was “Literacy for Sustainable Development”

THE EVENT PROCEDINGS

HiHEA learners attended the celebrations in large numbers. In Kajiado County the celebrations

were held at Kimana Christ the King Catholic grounds while in Makueni County the celebrations

were held in Kilungu Sub county headquarters.

The guest of honor for the day in Loitokitok was the Deputy county commissioner Mr.Jaldesa

and in Makueni the Guest of honor was the Deputy county commissioner for Kilungu sub-

county, Mr Ruto. Other guests in Kajiado cerebrations included; HiH EA CEO, Kajiado County

director of adult education, local NGOs among others. In the Makueni event, guests included;

County director of adult education, HiHEA Program Operations Manager who represented the

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HIH EA CEO, the Sub county education officers, local politicians, local NGOs, CBOs and the local

community.

HiH EA learners and staff were all clad in red branded caps as a sign of solidarity and

represented over 90% of those in attendance. The HiH EA learners were part of the

entertainment crew and presented traditional dances, songs and poems also demonstrating

what they had learnt.

HiH EA learners in Kajiado presenting a song during the celebrations.

A HiH EA learner in Kajiado was given an opportunity to address the gathering. So full of

confidence, she said that she was very grateful on her graduation day as she is now able to read

and write. She cited that she had travelled the previous night from Eldoret where she had taken

her daughter to school. She was very excited as she said that she could read sign boards on the

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road and know where she was ,unlike before where she would have gotten lost or asked for

direction since she could not read the sign posts. The County DACE director commended HiH EA

for the outstanding performance in promoting Adult Literacy in the County. In Makueni County,

HiH EA was also commended for the great impact that had been felt through her initiative in

promoting literacy. The Guest of honor, Deputy County Commissioner- Makueni, acknowledged

that without HiH EA involvement in Adult Literacy training, the massive number of learners

could not have been witnessed, since the government had very few teachers and limited

resources to support literacy. He urged HiH EA to continue offering the literacy skills to the

community, and mentioned that knowledge of reading and writing is very crucial especially as

we get into general election in 2017.The ability to read and write has promoted the learners

civic rights as this will ensure that they vote the people of their choice and not dependent on

others to show them where to tick or what to write as they vote.

HiH EA learners in Makueni County presenting a song.

HiH EA CEO, Pauline congratulated the learners for the one year effort that they had dedicated

to learn. She noted that most of the learners were women and therefore urged the men to join

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the adult classes in order for them to support the women, and be role models to their children.

She called upon the local authority to sensitize the morans on the need to get the literacy skills.

She appreciated the project donors for funding the project in phase I and in phase II as well and

thanked the Adult Education Directorate for their support in rolling out the literacy project and

in its implementation.

THE AWARDS RECEIVED

“Shared joy of success & achievement”

HiH EA CEO – Pauline presenting a trophy to a wining group.

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HiH EA was awarded two trophies, one in each county, for being the best in enrollment of Adult

Literacy learners. Another trophy was awarded to HiH EA in Makueni County for being the best

performance in proficiency test in the year. In Kajiado the trophy on the best performed literacy

class 2016, in proficiency test was awarded to a HiH EA group.

HiH EA was also awarded a certificate in recognition of the significant contribution towards

organizing the 2016 International Literacy day celebrations.

“A happy moment”

The HiH EA staff receiving a trophy in Kajiado County

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The three trophies won by HiH EA in different categories- 2016

A certificate awarded to HiH EA for active participation in organizing the celebrations.

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Learners were also individually awarded certificates for successfully completing the basic adult

literacy training and passing the proficiency test.

A HiH EA learner (Grandmother) in Makueni County receiving her certificate.

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HiH EA will continue working with other stakeholders to improve literacy levels in the Region.

The Organization will also continue participating in the future international literacy day

celebrations which help create awareness on the importance of the ability to read and write as

a basic human right.

HiH EA is very appreciative of the continuous support by Läkarmissionen and HiH Sweden that

has enabled the transformation of the lives of the learners and their families in both Kajiado

and Makueni Counties.

Report by: Josephine Chege

Project Manager-IADLET

21st September 2016.