Learning to read and write in both languages simultaneously allows the symbols, words, phrases and sentences that apply to the studied topics to be assimilated into the daily life of the indigenous population, despite their lack of previous formal education. The students discuss issues such as: human and civil rights, organisation for local industry, daily care of the environment, family and community organisation, childrearing, and holistic and reproductive health (especially the prevention of the so called "illness of poverty" and of sexually transmitted diseases). Topics are selected with attention to the sociocultural and age-specific characteristics of each group of students.

The implementation model allows members of the community to be easily trained to facilitate classes themselves, and the playful nature of the method permits easy learning of both reading and writing in periods of less than 6 months. In the Centers of Bilingual Literacy (locations which are not schools), one can see needs met both for learning and for technical assistance, in areas such as agriculture, disease prevention, and human rights violations, but always with an awareness of the importance of self-management. Goals such as the development of a culture of small businesses, the growth of productivity, and the learning of new information technologies (through an image feedback process) are pursued alongside the goal of strengthening traditional community organisation, especially amongst the women.The approximation of gender equity in the programmes deserves special attention, since community work is usually organised in a way that places women in a strongly subordinate position. The bilingual literacy programmes are implemented with special attention to this issue, and in a gradual and reasonable way, so as not to create unnecessary conflict between the genders. The programmes take into account the cultural and social situation, while at the same time working separately with men and women to create the conditions necessary for a greater approximation of men and women's daily work (the teachers as well as the learning materials are different, depending on the gender of the student).

Education, technology, rights, the environment.

The overall objective of the programme is to contribute to the fight against poverty, by creating a strategy for technological development in the neediest regions of Guatemala and Peru, in order to strengthen community life and health, while respecting cultural identity and the approximation of gender equity found in these communities.

Specific objectives:

Partners

The United Nations Latin American Economic Commission (CELADE/CEPAL)