Literacy Classes for Women in Haraz

Published : June 5, 2020

As the crisis in Yemen enters its sixth year, the education sector and its infrastructure in the country have been severely impacted.

According to UNICEF, access to education in Yemen today is catastrophic. Schools, institutes and other education-related infrastructure have been destroyed. Resources and school materials are in short supply due to the crisis, and qualified teachers have either left the country or have not received their regular salary for 6 years.

In rural regions, where access to education was already difficult due to the distance between villages and schools and the lack of resources, the educational circumstances are even worse.

However, it is not just conflict that has kept women and girls out of school: many obstacles to education remain. Culturally, it is not considered necessary for women to educated, nor it seen as important for them to continue their education. 

The project thus aims to sustain the activity of the 25 classes dedicated to women and girls already set up by Y30 in 25 villages of the Haraz valley in Sana’a governorate.

Currently, 23 teachers are working on a voluntary basis due to the lack of financial resources. Classes are held three hours a day, five days a week.

Although we have been able to provide school materials for each class, we are seeking funding to pay salaries to all 25 teachers. 

Some figures:

  • 25 classrooms in 25 villages of the Haraz Valley.
  • 1268 participants.

In 2020, this project was supported by the Swiss commune of Plan-Les-Ouates and still today by private donations.

Literacy lessons are an effective tool for learning:

Literacy eradication videos are considered one of the modern methods of enhancing education and facilitating access to information, especially in societies that suffer from high illiteracy rates. These videos provide simple and engaging educational content, making it easier for learners to understand basic topics such as reading and writing.