ProLiteracy Worldwide

“…to sponsor educational programs and services that empower individuals to acquire the literacy skills and practices they need to function more effectively in their daily lives.”

This organisation was formed in 2002 by the merger of Laubach Literacy International and Literacy Volunteers of America. It works in 45 developing countries as well as in the United States and serves more than 350,000 adult new learners around the world each year. Literacy Programs are usually combined with grassroots development efforts embracing health, environmental sustainability and improved livelihoods.

Currently, ProLiteracy is working in Hebei with Rural Women magazine (formerly Rural Women Knowing All) to implement a women’s literacy programme. This incorporates information and training on health, sanitation, agriculture and animal husbandry.

Another partner organisation is the Rural Development Association of Yilong County (RDAY)– an NGO in Sichuan that was established under the auspices of a UNDP poverty alleviation project. In this project, literacy training for women is combined with microfinance, using Chinese language training materials jointly developed by ProLiteracy and RDAY.

In Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, ProLiteracy works with the provincial Women's Federation to support women's literacy, micro-enterprise, and health programmes.

In Beijing ProLiteracy assists a women’s literacy program that the Beijing Cultural Development Center for Rural Women coordinates. ProLiteracy also supports the publication of learning materials and teacher and program-leader training, so that women in rural areas can receive basic literacy instruction integrated with health, sanitation, agriculture, and livestock-raising information.