Literacy, West Africans, and the General Relief Society

I had to make sure I posted this experience before I forgot it and because I really did need to do a post about my dear African friends. Shortly after moving to Philadelphia, it became apparent that there was a real need for someone with experience teaching people how to read and write. Our ward has a population of West African members who have never have the opportunity to ever be educated. In Africa any type of education costs money and most were too poor or too busy fighting a war to learn how to read and write. However, now that they are in America, they have found themselves surrounded by a society where education is vital to survival. They struggle with having their basic needs met, finding respectable jobs, understanding traffic signals, or how to navigate anywhere outside of their homes. Since teaching is a bit of a small passion in my life (my husband just chuckled), I decided that I really, really wanted to find a way to help these people. I wanted to teach them to how to read and write. So after lots of meetings and visits to West African homes, it was decided that twice a week we would have a class of 8 West African students come to our home and have "school". My little "school" opened in March and has been a huge learning experience for me. I have taught the alphabet, basic writing skills, and gone a couple field trips. No miracles have occurred and I have struggled to keep the members of the class coming regularly but as I reflect on the experience there have been small gains. The women from my class can speak English more clearly and feel confident enough to now answer the telephone or dial a phone number. They told me one day that they finally figured out what those red and green lights mean that are on the streets and they are all around more aware of the American life they are surrounded by and have been for the past 5-6 years. It is amazing what a perspective of learning does.

This week I had the rare opportunity to meet with Sister Carole Stephens from the General Relief Society Board in my home for a small private meeting. During this time I was able to share with her our story of the Little West African Literacy Class and all the struggles and successes that we had experienced over the past few months. I was able to share with her our need for a basic literacy program curriculum that could be used for people like our West Africans with no educational background. Our amazing Relief Society President was also able to meet with us and she was able to describe the dynamics of our ward and her experiences from all the wonderful service she as rendered to our area. Sis. Stephens was everything you imagined a member of the General Relief Society to be and it was an amazing experience to get to meet with her and share our efforts and trials with her. I don't know what effect our meeting will have but I am so grateful for the experience.

Philadelphia has definitely opened up a whole new world of culture and experiences that I never knew existed. It has been a huge blessing in our lives to meet and serve these amazing West African people.