In title picture above, our literacy graduates from Dar aSsalaam literacy circles with their graduation certificates, in a ceremony attended by inspectors from the National Council for Adult Education and Literacy
This is a literacy post for Women’s Education Partnership
Learn more about our work in At a Glance Weaving Brighter Futures Literacy Changes Lives and Literacy Circles in Action
Graduation Celebrations at Our Literacy Circles
A Photographic Tribute
Above, our literacy centre in Jebel Aulia, built entirely by our participants on their own initiative. Our graduates here laid the foundations, made the bricks and built the structure all themselves. Recent flooding has severely damaged the roof and ripped down the metal signs between the doorways, but we will be repairing these over the next few weeks.
In early November this year I was privileged to share in the graduation ceremonies of our literacy circles in Jebel Aulia, Dar aSsalaam and Hajj Yusuf. This blogpost is a photographic tribute to the celebrations.
Above, on the road to Jebel Aulia, an hour and a half’s drive from central Khartoum. The radiator needed more regular top-ups of water than we did!
It has been a challenging year for both participants and literacy workers. Severe flooding, political upheaval and economic instability have all taken their toll. It is a testimony to the dedication of our participants and staff that our circles managed to carry on their work and successfully complete their programs.
Celebration sweets made by our graduates, together with nuts and dates
Graduation Celebrations in Jebel Aulia, Dar aSsalaam and Hajj Yusuf
Setting the Scene
Although our literacy participants graduate at the end of their two-year program on passing the official Sudanese certificate in literacy, they come away with much more than reading and writing skills. See Literacy Changes Lives to learn more.
The program’s practical literacy skills covers aspects of health, hygiene, community action and income generation. Above a hanging display of bags and other handicrafts made by Jebel Aulia circle as part of their income generation work.
Above, celebrating with traditional singing and dancing at Hajj Yusuf and Dar aSsalaam literacy circles. Poetry, songs, jokes and drama filled the air at the celebrations. For many graduates, performing plays, reciting their own poetry and reading their own work in the celebrations represented personal milestones.
Watch the video below for a taste of the atmosphere:
This is a literacy post for Women’s Education Partnership
Learn more about our work in At a Glance Weaving Brighter Futures Literacy Changes Lives and Literacy Circles in Action
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Jebel Aulia literacy circle – looking out, looking in
All photographs in this blogpost were taken with official permission and are copyright Imogen Thurbon and may not be reproduced without written permission.
Graduation of our Literacy Participants at Jebel Aulia
Jebel Aulia is one of the poorest and most deprived districts of Khartoum. Below some of our participants, together with neighbors and children not wanting to miss out, waiting for the ceremony to begin. Many of the attendees here make their living harvesting okra at this time of year – hot and backbreaking work.
Below some of our Jebel Aulia graduates. It is a profoundly conservative community which draws solace and strength from its faith. Strengthened by their newfound abilities to read and write and thereby participate more fully in community decisions, graduates wait for formal graduation photographs to be taken.
For many of the graduates here, the program was their first experience of speaking in front of an audience.
Below, a graduate receiving her certificate at Jebel Aulia
Below, the community also gather to see the graduates and join in celebrations
This is a literacy post for Women’s Education Partnership
Celebrations at Dar aSsalaam and Hajj Yusuf
Celebrations in these centres were a joy to attend. Singing, dancing, role plays and jokes were interspersed with testimonies from our graduates on how their lives had been enriched by their literacy studies and how they now had the confidence to initiate community projects and encourage other women to enroll in our literacy program.
Above, crotchet and basket work by our graduates as part of their income generation projects, displayed at the ceremonies
Some of our graduates’ testimonies –
“Now I can make and receive phone calls without having to ask my daughter to read out the names and numbers for me.”
“Now I can help my son with his homework.”
“Now, I have the confidence to speak in public and share my views.”
Above, graduates, wearing their best clothes for the occasion, watching musical performances in Dar aSsalaam
Below, three of our dedicated literacy workers sharing in the success of their graduates and looking forward to the coming academic year and new participants joining .
Graduates performing role plays and songs during the graduation ceremonies, while holding aloft some of the handbags they also made during the program.
Shaking hands with officials from the National Council for Adult Education and Literacy
Receiving certificates from our staff and inspectors from the National Council for Adult Education and Literacy. Pride and confidence shine out.
Strong, Determined Women, Looking forward to Taking a Bigger Role in their Communities and Initiating Practical Projects in Social Change
Traditional hospitality
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Women's literacy in Sudan 