Notes from the Field: Teaching Literacy in Turkey

Teaching Literacy in Turkey

Notes from the Field: Turkey Site Visit (Cynthia Steele)

"I was blind, now I can see."

So replied a young woman in Diyarbakir, Turkey when I asked how becoming literate has affected her life.  She is one of 1300 adolescent girls and women trained by grantee partner, ACEV (The Mother and Child Foundation) in functional literacy.  This innovative, intensive 13 week program provides the opportunity to learn to read, write and do basic math for girls and women who have not had schooling, in a region where female illiteracy is 45%, compared to 18% nationwide.   The participants also learned about their basic rights under Turkish law - including the right to own property, marry, and inherit - which were new and very important concepts to most of them.  

Mike Moody, of the Ashmore Foundation, joined for two days of a site visit to Turkey in late April, meeting EMpower's two current grantees (ACEV and Youth Studies Unit), as well as eight prospective partners or philanthropic experts.  Turkey's youth population is huge - 43% of the population is 15 or under - and facing serious challenges (for example, 22% of Turkey's unemployed are young).  Moreover, there are sharp regional disparities in education, health and other indicators.  EMpower plans to continue funding of ACEV (a renewal grant will be presented at the upcoming Grants Meeting) and is in dialogue about future support with two other strong groups building youth skills in underserved Eastern Turkey.