Female Adult Literacy Program

FemaleLiteracyClassesGambia1INTBN’s Female Adult Literacy Program offers free basic reading and writing classes for females 18 years and over.  The classes are designed for individuals who have not received any formal education or left elementary school before completing grade 3.

The Gambia’s adult literacy rate is a real and not a manufactured problem.  According to statistics, *Gambia’s overall adult literacy rate is 40.1%, more than half of the population.  Of this females are the most disadvantaged; literacy rate for males is 47.8% and female

*The Point Newspaper published an article on Tuesday, 14 April 2009 titled, “Recipe for Poverty Reduction,” citing Mr. Buba Joof; Buba Joof says, “Due to the unequal treatment women and men receive, coupled with unequal access to resources, which is strengthened by social and cultural norms and values, it will be of great value if we could explore the relationship between education and poverty. This will go a long way in enhancing the understanding of poverty, hence the development and implementation of viable interventions to alleviate it. Notwithstanding, participatory poverty assessment in the Gambia late 1990 has identified low literacy (illiteracy as one of the causes of poverty).
This suggests that many partners would have to join with education authorities in developing basic education by strengthening the active participation of communities, private enterprises including government, non – governmental organizations, etc in the planning, management, and evaluating the various forms of basic education. 
The heavy workload on women, coupled with poor attitude of men to support women’s literacy activities is a major issue that needs to be addressed to enable achievement in education.”
*The Point Newspaper is a local, daily Gambian Newspaper (thepoint.gm)

 

Health and Education Fairs and Events

Health fairs are an effective way to provide valuable health information and screening services to the community. INTBN provides informative health fairs to community organizations, churches, senior citizens facilities and groups. We provide valuable medical information at these events , some these events basic screenings for Diabetes and Hypertension.

Our Health Fair topics include:

  • STIs (sexually transmitted infections)
  • Heart Disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Hypertension
  • Malaria (The Gambia, West Africa)
  • Diabetes
  • Mental Illness
  • Female Health Issues

 We are happy to work with you to provide an on-site lecture on other topics not listed here.

INTBN also provides education fairs (Chicago, IL, U.S.A.) with resource information on GED programs, alternative high school and training programs.  We also provide information on Chicago City College Programs.

The organization also goes into communities and applies a one on one approach for sex workers and others less likely to attend organized events.

Self Sufficiency and Economic Empowerment Program

sse7“The majority of women’s employment in The Gambia is generally restricted to occupations such as selling food or subsistence farming.  Women are subject to discrimination in education and employment. The female literacy rate is extremely low at 32.8 percent which lowers their chance of competing in today’s global economy.” (1)

It is not difficult to see the need and despair of some of the women in The Gambia.  Begging is widely noted, especially in tourist areas, near supermarkets and mosque where the women sit or stand outside most times begging for money with their children clinging to them.    

ssecINTBN meets with candidates for this program and assesses their skills (if any), interest and financial status.  The organization will offer ideas and help the participants develop a short term and long term work plan for their project that meets the needs of the participant and provide minimal financial assistance to begin.

INTBN will offer further advisory support and counseling for sustainability of the project.

(1)  Report from International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (IFCTU) and is produced to coincide with the trade policy review of Gambia at the World Trade Organization (WTO) as reported by, “afrol news”