08 September 2008

Luanda, Angola: Rebuilding literacy after 27 years of war is a major challenge for Angola. A UNV volunteer is forging links between Government, NGOs and private companies to help redress the balance.

When the civil war ended in 2002, Angola's educational infrastructure was in disarray and a generation of Angolans had few chances to learn how to read. The Government launched a national educational reform programme, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) supported the Ministry of Education as it formulated its National Strategy on Literacy and School Recovery.

UNV volunteer Priscila Ramalho from Brazil works with UNESCO in Angola as an Education and Literacy Research Assistant, and is helping to implement this national strategy. Her main focus is on identifying the different actors in Angola that are working on literacy, which helps the Ministry of Education build useful partnerships and thus reach higher numbers of people.

Most of these actors are NGOs, civil society organizations and religious groups that count mainly on volunteers to carry out their literacy activities. Another challenge in her role, explains Ms. Ramalho, is to promote private sector involvement, both as sponsors and co-implementers of literacy initiatives.

"A first movement in this direction was a partnership with the biggest construction company in Angola, Odebrecht, for International Literacy Day on 8 September," she says. Besides financing the production of educational fliers on 'Literacy and Health', the company organized educational and awareness-raising activities for its employees and families. "We hope that, following this positive example, other partners will also get on board," adds Ms. Ramalho.

Priscila Ramalho also brings literacy groups together to explore new opportunities and ways to share ideas and knowledge. In November, for instance, she will organize a workshop for the exchange of literacy methodologies and experiences.

More than 100 million children – 20 percent worldwide – are not enrolled in primary school, depriving them of basic education. Achieving universal primary education is the UN's Millennium Development Goal (MDG) number two, and on 8 September 2008 the UN marked International Literacy Day. UNV works in partnership with governments, local organizations and UN agencies around the world to help strengthen the capacity of institutions and teachers to deliver better education, and thus meet the challenge of MDG 2.