The adult literacy rate in El Salvador is estimated at 89% using 2018 government figures. Many people are in remote areas and the opportunity to learn, even get a basic education is very challenging. El Salvador is the fifth-poorest country in North America with a per capita GDP of $4,131. El Salvador has a small elite population that became wealthy through the country's coffee and sugar production. On the other hand, about 40% of the population falls below the poverty line.
Your funding allowed S.H.A.R.E. to support Adult Literacy in 2018 for 20 literacy circles for about 300 adults. Again, some local literate community members will act as teachers’ assistants and will be paid a small stipend by the local mayors. The Ministry of Adult Education will provide training for the teachers and the ANTA coordinator so that all Ministry requirements are met.
As a 40+ year donor I’ve supported S.H.A.R.E.'s practical and effective projects that help people help themselves. Upon retirement from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, I volunteered as a Projects Committee member. I am now Project Manager for El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras projects. I am a Professional Agrologist and a Canadian Association of Farm Advisors member. I value that each S.H.A.R.E. project requires the beneficiaries to Pass on a benefit to others in recognition of the help the project has given them.
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Throughout history ANTA has been forged as an institution that advocates the rights of Salvadoran peasant workers.
In February 2018 S.H.A.R.E. attended a ceremony for one class and awarded the certificates to the 20 students in that literacy circle. The ANTA organization and the municipal Mayor also attended the ceremony. S.H.A.R.E. also visited two other communities and met the beneficiaries of the program.
We wish everyone could hear how grateful all the men and women are for this opportunity. We wish to tell you that this literacy is a key part of a holistic program of rural development that the ANTA organization brings into a peasant community.