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What Are Some Key Findings in Adult Literacy Research?

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Adult literacy research is plentiful. Here are some statistics that stand out: Adult illiteracy is the most prevalent in South Asian, Arab and sub-Saharan African countries, where illiteracy rates are 40 to 50 percent. The illiteracy rate goes down to 10-15 percent in East Asia and Latin America. In developed countries, the illiteracy rate continues to fall to only a few percent. 1 However, these countries have challenges, too. For example, more than 36 million adults in the United States cannot read, write or do math above a third-grade level. Approximately 43 percent of illiterate adults in the United States live in poverty. Another interesting finding is how adult illiteracy impacts children. One study published study showed that children from highly educated families experience 30 million more words by the age of three than a child from a low-literate home. 2 A child’s future is greatly impacted by the literacy of his or her parents. GFA World points out that there are more tha...
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What is Adult Literacy?

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When people ask “What is adult literacy,” it is important to start with the basic definition of literacy before adding the age description of “adult.” Literacy is the ability to “read, write, speak and listen, and use numeracy and technology, at a level that enables people to express and understand ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, to achieve their goals, and to participate fully in their community and in wider society.” “Adult” adds an additional element to the definition because the impact of daily life changes greatly if an adult isn’t able to read and write. Literate adults read food labels, street signs, medicine bottles, menu options and so much more. As the definition expressed, literacy goes beyond reading, writing, speaking and listening. It includes an understanding of numeracy and technology. This includes basic math skills, allowing people to accurately buy and sell in the marketplace. What is the result of literacy? According to the definition abo...
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What Is Important to Include in Adult Literacy Classes?

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Adult literacy classes generally include teaching basic skills in reading, writing, math and language proficiency in order for participants to be productive members of society. Some programs also include problem-solving techniques or instruction in a particular area of the workforce. GFA World has been teaching adult literacy for decades in some of the poorest communities in Asia. More than one in three women in Asia are illiterate. These women are hindered from meeting their goals and others often taken advantage of because of their illiteracy. This is especially common in the marketplace. Illiterate adults are unable to help their children with schooling. They can’t read medical bottles, menus, labels, street signs or important paperwork. Being illiterate can be a detriment to one’s quality of life. It can also impact their hope for the future. When adults learn to read, all those negatives suddenly turn into positives! Adult literacy classes often include: Reading lessons, during ...
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Adult Literacy

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Have you ever wished there was a great miracle cure for poverty? Literacy, especially adult literacy, has been labeled such a great miracle cure! Why? Several factors go into this distinction. The definition of literacy itself gives us several concepts to consider: “ Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen, and use numeracy and technology, at a level that enables people to express and understand ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, to achieve their goals, and to participate fully in their community and in wider society.” In villages where literacy is increasing, those areas are seeing social and economic gains. In a special report published by Gospel for Asia, Karen Mains explains: “Much data … gives good cause to make the assumption that learning to read and write is one of the ‘great miracle cures.’” Adult literacy resources empower people to improve their lives and enable them to participate fully in their culture and community. Illiteracy is a...
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Clean Water: Christian Organizations Respond to Need

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While on earth, Jesus indicated that when His disciples give water to the thirsty—serving the “least of these”—it is as if they are doing it for the Savior Himself (Matthew 25:37-40). Elsewhere, He declared that even a cup of water given to those in need will surely earn a reward (Matthew 10:42). With these teachings in mind, it’s only natural that when 1.1 billion people are in need of clean water, 1 Christian organizations are responding to this need with practical help. Humans require water to survive, for hydration and hygiene as well as for cooking and agriculture. Yet contaminated water leads to a host of diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio. 2 Many areas that lack clean water also lack adequate medical facilities, and these diseases can lead to death. It’s estimated that unsafe water causes 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year, many of them preventable. 3 Children are at the highest risk. The World Health Organization attributes 1.6 million deaths of...
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What’s the Significance of a Clean Water Initiative?

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You may wonder why a clean water initiative is even necessary. In developed countries, clean water is readily available. All a person must do to obtain water is turn on a faucet. Water filters are built into refrigerators or can be easily purchased. Bottled purified water is also easily obtained. But this is not the case for millions of people worldwide who lack access to clean water. Consider the following: It’s estimated one in three people worldwide don’t have access to safe drinking water. 1 More than 25 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa must walk 30 minutes or more just to collect water. 2 Some 159 million people collect their drinking water directly from surface water sources, which may be contaminated. 3 Contaminated drinking water is estimated to cause 485,000 diarrheal deaths each year, while many more people suffer from diseases such cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio transmitted by such water. 4 Approximately 80 percent of illnesses in developing countries a...
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Jesus Wells: A Clean Water Project

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The need for clean water, especially in areas like South Asia and Africa, is great. Worldwide, 1.1 billion people lack access to clean water, leading to a host of waterborne diseases that bring sickness and even death. 1 There are multiple clean water projects trying to meet this critical need. One such clean water project is GFA World’s Jesus Wells As GFA workers serve in various impoverished communities, they seek to meet the unique practical needs of the people in those communities, bringing transformation and empowerment to communities in need. One common problem they encounter is the need for clean water. Even if there is a local water source, it may contain fecal matter, arsenic or other pollutants. 2 Drinking this water affects overall health and often makes people sick. It may cause diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, typhoid or polio. 3 Yet people continue to drink it, because it is their only option. Sometimes, a local water source doesn’t even exist and a family’s water gathere...
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