When it started in February 2019, Chinsapo Learning Center was just like any other adult literacy centre that anyone would think of.
At the time, the centre enrolled 20 students per class as many did not understand the importance of undergoing adult education.
But as time went, more adults enrolled to the extent that each class had 40 learners.
One 42-year old Stella Lawrence is one of the beneficiaries of the adult literacy programme. She says the programme has changed her life because she is now able to read and write.
Previously, Lawrence could not do any business as her husband did not trust she could handle money at the market.
“Now I am selling sweet potato and dry fish and I am able to know, calculate and give the right change to the customers,” says Lawrence.
The programme has not only benefited Lawrence, but the whole family since she now appreciates the importance of sending her children to school.
“I never went to school because of poverty, but now I have learnt that I have a role to send my children to school, I never allow them miss classes,” she narrates.
Attending adult education is not easy for adults who left school long time ago or did not attend any school at all.
Chinsapo Learning Center director Raphael January says the center encourages the learners by giving them different incentives when they do well in class.
“The center also gives female students sanitary pads at the end of every month, we understand that this is a challenge to most female students to extent they fail to attend class. So the sanitary pads help them not to miss class,” said January.
The center also allows female learners who have babies to bring them along to the centre where they are given food as their mothers are attending classes.
“We have employed caregivers to look after the babies. The center offers the education for free and this is a three year World Sharp Organization funded project and we believe the project will be extended,” says January.
