Education Program

Illiteracy is high in Melanesia, with only 20% of Solomon Islands women able to read and write. Education is not compulsory and cultural attitudes contribute – such as parents in rural areas still preferring to send boys to school, and the role of women is perceived as to perform all domestic tasks, therefore no need to educate them. Lack of access to formal education and training has been identified as a key barrier to women’s employment and advancement in society. The Mother’s Union in the Church of Melanesia have taken the initiative to provide Literacy Classes to local women who otherwise have no access to formal education, with the aim to improve the women’s knowledge and capabilities in a range of areas, such as nutrition and health care.

The Mother’s Union depends on volunteers to teach the women how to read and write.

Here are some of the ways your gift will be used:

• $500 will help print teaching and learning materials for the literacy class
• $800 will help pay travel allowance for the literacy trainers
• $3,000 will help rural women attend literacy classes to learn how to read and write
• $5,500 will allow the Mother’s Union volunteers to conduct education workshops in five villages
• $8,000 will help the Mother’s Union extend the literacy work to the remote parts of the Solomon Islands

We need to raise $40,400* in 2007 You can Donate Now to this project by selecting SI 35
*Donations to this project are tax deductible for individuals.

To find out more: 2007 project information
For the most recent update: 2007 project update