This document discusses strategies for conducting community assessments for education projects. It provides examples of literacy projects conducted by Rotary International in various countries. Some key points: 1) Over 700 million adults and over 120 million youth globally lack basic literacy skills. Two-thirds are women and girls, with over half living in sub-Saharan Africa. 2) Successful projects engage the local community, empower them in project design and implementation, and ensure sustainability through training of local teachers and replication of simple literacy programs. 3) Examples are given of successful literacy projects conducted by Rotary clubs in countries like South Africa, Egypt, Liberia, and Puerto Rico. Projects focused on building basic literacy skills in preschools and

1. 2014 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
How to Conduct a
Community Assessment
for Education Projects

2. Past RI President Bill Boyd, New Zealand
Moderator
The Panel
Past RI Director Noraseth Pathmanand, Thailand
President, LitRAG
Rotarian Amy Matusek, USA
Souns Projects-USA and South Africa

3. 774 MILLION
illiterate
ADULT>15 years old
123 MILLION
illiterate
YOUTH15-24 years old
THERE ARE
2/3
73 MILLION
are female
2/3
493 MILLION
are women
THERE ARE

4. Concentrated Language Encounter (CLE)
Noraseth Pathmanand

5. WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
54 million of the 76 million illiterate young women live in only 9 countries

6. WHO WILL BE ILLITERATE IN THE FUTURE?
57 MILLION
out-of-school children
1 in 2
live in sub-Saharan Africa
will never enter
a classroom
have dropped out
or will start late
1/2
1/2
GLOBALLY
250 MILLION
children of primary school age, whether they are in school
or not, lack basic reading and writing skills.*
*Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2012

7. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR THEM?
INEQUALITY
UNFULFILLED INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL AND A LIMITED ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE
TO THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
POVERTY UNSTABLE, POORLY
PAID JOBS

8. REPORTED BY UNESCO

9. THREE LITERACY LEVELS
FUNCTIONAL LITERACY LEVEL
BASIC LITERACY LEVEL
COMPUTER LITERACY LEVEL

10. CLE
Concentrated Language Encounter
Lighthouse Strategy

11. ROLE AND ACTIVITIES OF LITRAG

12. CLE TRAINING FOR EGYPT IN BANGKOK

15. TO BE SUCCESSFUL
GOVERNMENT
SCHOOLS ROTARY
SUPPORTS

16. CLE PILOT PROJECT IN LIBERIA

18. VISIT US
BOOTH 108
www.litrag.org

19. Souns projects:
building basic literacy in preschools
(Lessons learned through 2 MG’s and 3 GG’s)
Amy Matusek

20. • One visit and we could see…
– Literacy was clearly a need.
• We made sure the community wished to be helped.
• We worked with the community to make a plan.
• We confirmed available talents and resources.
Identify

21. These children were hungry to learn!

22. Contact made! Like minded souls!

23. Projects build community

24. • Engage the community…
– We spent a great deal of time sharing with:
• Rotarians in possible partnering districts
• Community leadership in host site
• Project participants in international and host site
Engage

25. NGO’s were desired partners and guardians for our projects

26. US Peace Corps and Rotary in South Africa discuss project

27. Rotary and Head Start leadership in Puerto Rico presenting project

28. Social get-togethers in community to share project

29. • Empowering the community…
– We embraced and trained the community.
– We included new advocates as they
demonstrated interest in the project.
– The project was expanded through initiatives
within the community by the community.
Empower

30. Peace Corps volunteer, “My tools to change the world!”

31. Simple programs can reach far into a population,

32. ….or excite dedicated teachers who want to make a difference,

33. …and build an attitude of “I can do this!” for a generation.

34. • Sharing results of the project…
– We visited project sites often…
• Celebrating progress
• Assisting with issues
• Collecting data and taking pictures to share with
participating Rotary clubs
• Sending images and short stories to local publications
• Presenting the project whenever possible
Share

35. The Rotarian, August 2011, “Where Angels Tread”

36. 4-year-olds in South Africa building words in home language

37. Head Start children in USA building words by listening to sounds

38. “May I read to you?” a child in South Africa asks Rotarian R. Jones

39. She read a message we wrote!

40. • Sustain, sustain, sustain…
– We trained teachers and trainers of teachers.
• Project resulted in a body of trained teachers
• Well chosen NGO organizations benefited by
adding this program to their offerings
• At end of project the work continues with
materials, teachers, and teacher trainers in place.
Sustain

41. Training teachers

42. Training teacher-trainers…

43. Children training teachers….really!

44. • Replicate….
– Souns is a program that can be used in all
languages that use the Latin Alphabet
– There are no expendables, so the materials
provide tools for subsequent years.
– The program is simple to use for teachers or
caregivers.
– A trained population ensures project can
expand its reach within community.
Replicate

45. There is a better tomorrow for these children! “Thank you,
Rotarians!”