An update from Ashley Gutierrez, one of our editors and filmmakers currently in Uganda.

agoots:

While filming in Uganda, there have been a handful of times that have really stirred my emotions; the majority of these moments revolve around the Functional Adult Literacy program (FAL).  Many of Invisible Children’s beneficiaries within Mend and VSLA never had the opportunity to learn to read and write when they were younger due to war in northern Uganda.  But now, through FAL, they are finally learning literacy and numeracy.

I learned to read at an early age. I started kindergarten at age four, “Hooked On Phonics worked for me!”  So seeing women my grandmother’s age supporting their whole families day in and day out, yet not knowing how to read or write their names is shocking and grounding.

Sitting in on FAL lessons is both humbling and inspiring, to say the very least.  It’s building community and perpetuating dignity among groups of beneficiaries.  I’m excited to continue sitting in on these lessons and share the members stories over the next few months. 

Above you’ll see some photos of the beneficiaries during their lesson.  In Bobi, I guess chickens are beneficiaries too..