Mikko Takkunen | Photographer

SIERRA LEONE: Adult Literacy

Less than half of Sierra Leonese adults are literate, which is a major obstacle for development. However, the issue receives surprisingly little attention and there are only few international NGOs running adult literacy projects in the country. One reason might be the difficulty to measure the success of such projects. Whether you build a school, dig a well, or renovate a hospital, the project achievements are faster and easily quantifiable, whereas results in literacy take far longer (it often takes adults years to attain even basic literacy) and assessment of project outcomes is far more difficult. One of few the international NGOs to support these programs is the Finnish Refugee Council. These photographs were taken in around Sierra Leone during March 2008, in adult literacy projects supported by the Finnish organisation.

Adult literacy class in Largo.
   
Students pay attention while Mr Alimamy Mansaray writes on the blackboard during an adult literacy class in Gbindi, northern Sierra Leone.
   
     
  
Adult literacy class in Gbindi. It often takes adults years to become literate, as family responsibilities make it difficult to have classes more than once or twice a week. The fact that a lot of students have difficulties even holding a pen properly, speaks volumes of the long struggle towards literacy.
   
An adult literacy participant concentrates in the back of the class room, which is in fact a disused market place.
  
Adult literacy class in session.
     
  
Many adult literacy classes are held in the evenings as the time is more appropriate for the participants with family responsibilities. There is no electricity and the students use candles, lanterns, and torches.
   
Mrs Lucy Navo, Circle 1 participant of the three Largo town adult literacy circles. The students are separated according their abilities, Circle 3 having the most advanced participants.