Organization:

Anne Cocuk Egitim Vakfi- ACEV

(Mother Child Education Foundation)

Name of Project:

Women's Empowerment and Literacy Program in Istanbul

Grant Amount:

$889.98

Website:

http://www.acev.org/

Project Phase:

Project Completed

Brief Description of Organization:

The mission of Mother Child Education Foundation (AÇEV) is to improve the quality of life of individuals through education.  AÇEV strives to do this through programs and projects targeting young children (especially aged 0-6), their families and illiterate women. AÇEV works to provide equal opportunities for disadvantaged children and adults through education. Read More.

Primary Purpose of the Project:

This 14-week program is specifically designed for illiterate women over the age of 15. It aims at imparting functional literacy skills to women and raising their awareness on issues concerning their rights and welfare.

Needs that were addressed:

Istanbul is a hub for immigrants who move to the metropolis to find work and better living conditions. Immigrants tend to settle in economically under-developed districts such as Fatih, Eyup, Kagithane, Alibeykoy and Gaziosmanpasa. The inhabitants of these districts have not fully integrated into the urban life and face difficulties of doing so because many of them are literate. 7% of the population in these regions are illiterate and most of them are women. This project aims to advance functional literacy and increase the participation of women from such neighborhoods in societal life.

Population Targeted: Illiterate women over the age of 15

Core Project Activities:

The literacy acquisition program (FALP) geared towards illiterate adults were employed in the program.

The first stage of the literacy sessions consisted of 120 hours of class time and was approved and certified by the Turkish Ministry of Education. An 80 hour supplementary program consisted of teaching participants how to use literacy as a way of accessing information and how to make reading and writing integral parts of their everyday lives. The program was administered by volunteer teachers trained and guided by AÇEV staff.

AÇEV is the only NGO in Turkey which is licensed by the Ministry of Education to offer literacy certification to adults.  

All participants of the program received literacy certification. 

Area-focus: Education, Women Empowerment

Staff-Volunteer Ratio: All volunteers

Achieved Outcomes:

Through this program AÇEV not only imparted functional literacy skills to women, but also supported women so that they can participate more actively in social life and become aware of the current political and social issues. 

Course offered with grant: 3 (in the districts of Eyup, Fatih and Kagithane) 
Beneficiaries: 65 women between the ages of 25-40

At the end of the project the 65 participants were able to: 

• Read and write
• Read and understand newspaper headings
• Go out without needing help from anyone
• Acquire the necessary skills to carry out daily, practical tasks independently (make phone calls, tell time, go to the hospital or bank, etc.)
• Be aware of their identity and rights
• Be more self-confident and independent
• Be more informed and aware of reproductive health and their rights to access health services
• Be more interested in education and demand more
• Support sending girls to school
• Be better informed about organizations that provide various services, and demand more services from them

At the end of the initial course, an average of 21.6 participants per class, and a total of 65 participants from all three classes, have graduated. 30% of graduates (19 participants) were placed in the next level of the course- FALP2 .

3 former volunteers were trained by AÇEV to conduct the courses. They were observed by AÇEV staff and supported when necessary.

In order to carry out this program, AÇEV successfully partnered with other NGOs such, Turkiye Egitim Gonulluleri Vakfi (Educational Volunteers Foundation of Turkey).

AÇEV was able to successfully reach target populations not reached before and established a strong relationship with the community.