Food For The Poor (FFTP) (Guyana) Inc has partnered with its sister organization in Canada to launch the Baramita Literacy Project – ‘Empowering Women and Girls through Literacy and Numeracy’ in Baramita, Region 1.
A release from the charity said that the project was launched at the Baramita Primary School and will be completed in August 2024.
The project will benefit 30 women and girls from the community who have never attended school or lack basic foundational literacy and numeracy skills. At the launching each participant was given a package which comprised of one bag, books, pencils, eraser, sharpener and crayons.
Speaking at the opening ceremony was FFTP (Guy) Inc. Social Worker /Programme Coordinator Stacy Parris who said, “Today marks a pivotal moment in the Baramita community as we gather to launch a literacy programme specifically tailored for the empowerment of women and girls. In the heart of our rural landscape, education becomes a beacon of hope, and this initiative seeks to illuminate the path toward knowledge and self-sufficiency. Access to education is not just a right but a catalyst for positive change. By focusing on literacy, we aim to break down barriers that have hindered the potential of our women and girls for far too long. As we embark on this journey, let us remember that an educated woman not only transforms her own life but becomes a catalyst for the transformation of her community.”
According to Parris the programme is more than just alphabets and numbers.
“It is about fostering confidence, independence, and a sense of belonging”, she stated.
One of the tutors of the programme, Bissoonnauth Bacchus commended FFTP (Guy) Inc. on the work being done in Baramita. He said that FFTP (Guy) Inc. has on numerous occasions made major investments in Baramita such as donating hampers, grills, partnering with STEM Guyana to enhance the learning of the students at the school, donating tables and computers among others. Bacchus told the beneficiaries about the uniqueness of the programme and how beneficial it will be as at the end they will have a better grasp of the English Language.
In the first twelve weeks of the project the participants will be able to learn to print the letters of the alphabet, understand the phonetics of each letter, print their name, names of parents or children/husband, place of birth, birthday and dates, fill out a birth certificate form and count to 100. In the final twelve weeks they will learn to print numbers to 100, simple math addition and subtraction, complete simple money transactions, read public signs and simple sentences and learn the calendar and how it works.
