When The Bravest Thing You Can Hold is a Pencil

It takes a whole lot of grit to start over. Imagine the courage it takes to walk into a classroom when you are 70 years old, ready to learn your letters. That kind of bravery is exactly what we just witnessed in Haiti.

This August, we celebrated 45 incredible individuals who completed our Lekòl Alfa adult literacy classes. Across three of our centers, 42 students graduated with basic reading and writing skills, alongside three septuagenarians (we affectionately call them granmè yo) who proudly received their certificates of attendance.

Their class motto is “Always Learning, Always Growing”. That is not just a catchy phrase. It is a battle cry. Many of the young mothers in this program, ranging in age from 20 to 35, have not seen the inside of a school since preschool. Our older community members pushed past decades of inadequate opportunity and the heavy burden of shame just to sit at a desk and learn.

For five months, these students gathered three times a week. They matched vocabulary cards, sounded out letters, and spent their final 21 lessons reading short stories from the Bible. Along the way, they built a beautiful community of learners who helped each other persevere.

When you learn to read, you do not just gain a skill. You reclaim your God-given dignity. We are so incredibly proud of this class, and we celebrate the immense value they have in Jesus Christ.

Want to be part of stories like this? You can help us write the next chapter. Make a donation today that goes towards programs like our adult literacy program, ensuring more students get the opportunity to hold a pencil and reclaim their dignity.