Diocese of Hubli Opens Seven Literacy Centers to Empower Women through Literacy

In observance of International Literacy Day, Believers Eastern Church Diocese of Hubli organized literacy awareness programs and started adult literacy centers at different villages on 8 September 2021.

Women’s Fellowship teams from the diocese reached out to illiterate women in nearby villages, including slums and taught them the basics of reading and writing. They also raised awareness about the government’s education scheme ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ which was stated with the aim of creating awareness on the need to protect the girl child and focus on their education.

Through the initiative of the women’s fellowship teams, seven new adult literacy centers were started in Belgaum and Bijapur districts where around 100 illiterate women have enrolled for literacy classes. Literacy books and slates were also distributed to the learners.

Priya, a 35-year-old illiterate woman is a member of one of the literacy centers started on International Literacy Day. She is married and has 2 children. She is working as a daily wage laborer. She has never been to school due to poverty and nobody ever took interest in teaching her how to read and write. She is very much eager to learn how to read and write and is truly thankful to the church for taking the initiative to empower illiterate women through literacy.

Madevi, 47 years old, is married and has 5 children. She works as a domestic help in 5 houses to earn a living. In her culture, girl children were not encouraged to go to school, due to which she has never been to school. She is thankful to the church for opening a literacy center in her village. She said, “I am happy that through this initiative of the church, I will soon be able to learn how to read and write.”

Arif, 43 years old, is married and blessed with 3 children. He works as a daily wage laborer. Due to poverty, he never had the opportunity to go to school. He is truly happy for the new literacy center in his village and is dedicated to learn. “I thought I would never be able to read and write in my life. I am very happy that now I have an opportunity to learn through the initiative taken by the church”, said Arif.