Essay On The Literacy Initiative

"Empowerment through education”
Pakistan is a developing country with a literacy rate of just over 58%. Also, a large proportion of the population is suffering from abject poverty, and this sector also forms a major part of the community. In order to help these masses a number of NGO’s such as CARE have taken up the responsibility to give hope to the poorer citizens. CARE especially focusses its attention on underprivileged children through providing free education. As the chairman of CARE states, “for education is the only weapon that can raise your stature to the same level as those more fortunate.”
During the summer, 13 members of Aitchison College took a front line stance by helping the impressionable youth. An intensive program called ‘The Literacy Initiative’ was devised. The aim of the program was aimed at improving not only the vocal and written skills of the young people, but also to instill in them a better understanding of the English language. Its objective was to make the students skilled and fluent in all areas of communication. The delegation initiated the program at the CARE School, near Sheikupura. The program comprised of various creative writing exercises, vocabulary building and grammar skills activities. It especially focused on oral expression and effective communication through debates, spoken conversations and reading books. In order to engage the learners, extra activities were incorporated such as educational field trips, watching documentaries and playing interactive games like 'Hangman.’
Although it was a painstaking endeavor which required immense dedication, the whole experience at CARE was overwhelming and a beacon house of inspiration for all the team members. Perhaps the best element was the friendly environment in which the students could talk openly with students just like them. This yielded various new ways of learning and interaction. The students were remarkably attentive, cooperative and eager learners who demonstrated hard work in every assignment.
In the first assignment nearly all of the students failed to write a well-structured and coherent essay with any paragraphs at all, whereas in the final assignment each one of them produced acceptable, meaningful pieces of writing. This result demonstrated the progress they had made in a short space of time, and also showed the talent that sits within people, waiting to be discovered and developed. The attendance for the course was over 90% in the summer camp which depicted the students’ enthusiasm to learn and excel.
The inspiration to start this program derived from our passion to help and bridge the gap of education between the privileged and the under privileged. The world has become a global village. We are living in a very competitive environment in which well-mannered and disciplined individuals are needed to serve society and the country. In any country, education is the only panacea for change and development.
If all Pakistanis are the citizens of one nation, why can the privileged not contribute to helping those who are in need? Surely one day Pakistan can be amongst the most literate nations, if we are willing to take the first step in education. The experience at CARE proved that if we try, we can achieve. I believe that each one of us has been gifted with special talents and capabilities and when we share them with others it makes a difference. Still a lot more needs to be done. We must think of the larger goals that loom above us: to alleviate illiteracy and accomplish the dream of an educated and prosperous Pakistan.
"So in your next vacation, help such students and play your part!"