Report from BHW Field Director

Key person:  Azam Gill

Recent Events

The BHW Field Director visited Faisalabad in March 2016 to assess the various projects in the area. The period for the projects had just finished. It was obvious from talking to Azam that the adult literacy training had not gone particularly well. 

About six months into the project the person in charge had left without telling Azam of his plans. He went to Saudi Arabia for work and just left the teachers in each area to fend for themselves so they had no oversight. At the same time Azam and Barbara’s son crashed their car so they had no way to get there to follow up. It is a six hour drive from Rawalpindi to the villages. 

Without the encouragement from the leader, the number of adults in the groups had dwindled. The adults were not learning very quickly and this can be understood, they had little education, they were very busy with family life and there were many distractions. Some of the adults had drifted away and the village leaders had replaced them with people willing to learn. But these were mainly younger people, many of them still at school. 

When Azam discovered the fact that the leader had left it was too difficult to stop the programmes. He could not do that without visiting and he had no vehicle for months. 

At the end of the time and after consultation with the Field Director the programme was stopped. Not because there were no students, but because the right sort of people were not attending. 

Personal Stories

We talked to a number of people who had been in the courses. Most of those who had left early could read a little but were by no means able to read fluently. A number of the younger people could read better than before, but they would have learned anyway by just attending school. 

Quite a few of the older people 50+, were reluctant to sign up to the first course and when they heard that the course would not continue they were upset. There are a number of them who have decided they now want to join a class. 

Partnership's Influence within the Community

It has had the effect of making people realise that reading is important and that it is very difficult for adults to learn to read. In two of the villages a number of adults had made significant progress and want the programme to continue. 

The leaders of the churches in the villages were excited by the programme but were not able to keep their people involved. However they want it to continue. 

Ideas for the Future

To a large degree the first attempt was not a success. However, I think the review, the visit and subsequent conversations Azam and Barbara have had means that one more attempt on a smaller scale would be worthwhile. Azam would go there more frequently although his old car is still an issue. A new person who is not likely to leave will oversee and report more frequently to Azam, and Barbara will do a week training with the tutors before the courses start. 

Azam has two people able to tutor the students. In village no 322 JB, Shahzada - Mushtaq Masih would teach the adult people from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. He is nearly 60 years of age and has an intermediate secondary college education. He is a married, humble, kind and godly man and has a teaching spirit. He has a wife and adult children. His house is beside the village church. He has a good family and has good connections with the people around them. 

In village no 152 GB, Muqadas Bibi (in purple) would teach the men and women. Two years ago she passed high school in science subjects with good grades. She is single and wanted to attend her village college but due to poverty her parents could not afford to send her even though it is not very expensive compared to city colleges. She is around 19 years of age. She was very happy when she was selected as a teacher for adult people. She said she would love to teach her people who were not able to go to school. She said she wanted to be helpful. She is also a kind, beautiful, talented girl.

Current Issues and Challenges

Azam being able to oversee the programme more effectively from a distance is the single biggest issue this project faces. 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) That some people have been helped in their reading. 
2) That the community will learn the value of taking up a valuable opportunity. 
3) That a second attempt will be more successful. 
4) That Azam will be able to monitor it more effectively by having a better vehicle. 
5) That the new leaders will remain passionate about this programme and manage it better. 
6) That the second attempt will open a wider door for doing it better. 

Comments

I think we should do this again as a further trial for one year in two locations. Azam has people in two places who are able to tutor. At the end of the year it will be assessed again to determine if it should continue or not. It would be a pity not to follow up a poor start by just leaving. 

The indirect outcome of this programme will be that some of these people will get employment that previously they would not have been able to get. Reading is such a valuable tool for adults to have.