By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, December 26, Mana: District Community Development Officer for Salima Samuel Chimwaza has emphasized the need for stakeholders to take an interest in spearheading adult literacy in communities where they are implementing projects as one way of empowering community members.

Chimwaza made the remarks on Wednesday at Kamzimbe village in the area of Senior Chief Kalonga, during the graduation of 21 community members who underwent adult literacy training, facilitated by JCM power.

He said stakeholders should take it as their responsibility to empower communities so that people should be able to read, write and solve basic mathematics.

"It is worrisome when the majority of communities cannot write and sign during social protection activities, it is our wish to have at least 70 per cent of society who can read and write, this calibre of individuals make up productive citizens," he said.

On this point, he said, they appreciate stakeholders who collaborate with their office to improve the status of literacy in the district.

"Collective effort in improving and popularizing adult literacy is key to ensuring that the numbers of people who can read and write improves," he said.

He however expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of interest from males in adult literacy classes, giving an example of the graduating students who saw only one man graduating in the day.

Community Liason Officer for JCM Power, Levison Masamba said they have been observing that the majority of community members they are serving cannot read and write; therefore, this prompted them to come up with the initiative of having adult literacy classes.

"They have undergone rigorous training to attain skills in writing and reading, we sought the services of teachers who knew how to help an adult grasp the concept of reading and writing within the shortest time," he said.

He revealed that the initiative will be ongoing and the next cohort will commence in March 2025, with an expectation of having a higher enrollment number since there has been an awareness of the importance of adult literacy education.

One of the graduating learners Chisomo Banda said she dropped out of school in standard 5 and she has never learnt how to read or write, which was drawing her back from engaging in activities that would develop her life.

"I could not engage in peace works because the conditions were that I had to be able to read or write, and I could not properly count money but now with this skill, I am confident that my life will move forward," she said.

As motivation to others and to commend the graduating learners for taking part in the training, JCM Power gifted them with water buckets.