Programme of Bi-literacy In Matters of Economic Development, The Environment, Gender, and Community

Learning to read and write in both languages simultaneously allows the symbols, words, phrases and sentences that apply to the studied topics to be assimilated into the daily life of the indigenous population, despite their lack of previous formal education. The students discuss issues such as: human and civil rights, organisation for local industry, daily care of the environment, family and community organisation, childrearing, and holistic and reproductive health (especially the prevention of the so called "illness of poverty" and of sexually transmitted diseases). Topics are selected with attention to the sociocultural and age-specific characteristics of each group of students.

The implementation model allows members of the community to be easily trained to facilitate classes themselves, and the playful nature of the method permits easy learning of both reading and writing in periods of less than 6 months. In the Centers of Bilingual Literacy (locations which are not schools), one can see needs met both for learning and for technical assistance, in areas such as agriculture, disease prevention, and human rights violations, but always with an awareness of the importance of self-management. Goals such as the development of a culture of small businesses, the growth of productivity, and the learning of new information technologies (through an image feedback process) are pursued alongside the goal of strengthening traditional community organisation, especially amongst the women.The approximation of gender equity in the programmes deserves special attention, since community work is usually organised in a way that places women in a strongly subordinate position. The bilingual literacy programmes are implemented with special attention to this issue, and in a gradual and reasonable way, so as not to create unnecessary conflict between the genders. The programmes take into account the cultural and social situation, while at the same time working separately with men and women to create the conditions necessary for a greater approximation of men and women's daily work (the teachers as well as the learning materials are different, depending on the gender of the student).

Education, technology, rights, the environment.

The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the fight against poverty, by creating a strategy for technological development in the neediest regions of Guatemala and Peru, in order to strengthen community life and health, while respecting cultural identity and the approximation of gender equity found in these communities.

Specific objectives:

• That at least 60% of the illiterate population of both genders, selected by local organisations in the states of Heuheutenango (Guatemala) and Huancavelica (Peru) become literate in reading and writing in both their native language and in Spanish.
• That at least 60% of the students (of both genders and at both sites - Huehuetanango and Huancavelica) develop verifiable competency in the care of their own health (especially their reproductive and sexual health) and that they demonstrate an improvement in regards to the practice of gender rights.
• To create and distribute high quality audiovisual programmes using up-to-date technology as a way to support the learning process (through visual and audio feedback) and as a way to spread the Biliteracy Programmes Mam-español, Q`anjobl`al-español, and Quechua-español throughout the states of Huehuetenango (Guatemala) and Huancavelica (Perú).
• To systematize and evaluate the process and the results obtained during the project, suggesting new ways to measure the impact of the programme through the design and utilization of innovative monitoring systems and through a check and evaluation of information development.

Partners
The United Nations Latin American Economic Commission (CELADE/CEPAL)