New-Found Literacy Helps Defend and Win a Court Case

Taitu Bekele is a member of the Gergis Group in Bekay, Ethiopia. Her WORTH group started in September 2006 and Taitu has already found that her new literacy skills benefiting her life in more ways than expected.

In Taitu’s area, any adult woman who had attended any kind of education had learned to read and write in Amharic script. When the regional state decided to officially adopt Afaan Oromo language, which was transcribed with Latin letters, this left virtually all adult women functionally illiterate in the language of the state.

Says Taitu, “After WORTH, I am now able to write my name in Afaan Oromo language. My children are able to read Afaan Oromo script. I am using my literacy knowledge during the kebele meeting and when the Farmers’ Association calls a meeting. We use literacy at the clinic and hospital when we are paying and taking receipts. We also use literacy for writing things in the court. If two farmers are quarreling over a border, they will go to the social court in our kebele. The court then sends a letter to identify the case. They must read the letter and sign it”.

“After organizing into WORTH groups, we have learned our rights and obligations. We are learning through the program materials. If we face a problem, we ask each other questions. Then the whole class discussion clarifies the issue.”

“After learning to read, I have come to know my rights and obligations through different means. I was in court for a land claim case, and I was able to defend myself. I sent my application to the kebele. After identifying the receipts, I took the receipts to the court. This was taken as evidence. I also witnessed different documents. And because of this, I won the case! By looking at this evidence, the court decided on my behalf, and now everything is ok!”

“Before WORTH, I was sending five children to school. Now I am sending an additional one. …. None of my children are out of school now”.

“I may be old, but I can understand the importance of education.”

Comments

[clothing embroidery]

It's true,literacy could make thing possible. This could somehow alleviate your status of living, hence it could boost self esteem to oneself.

[reserved parking signs]

Having difficulty understanding everything is the worst thing you can do. Literacy could alleviate ones self and somehow could make everything possible.