Against all odds – The benefits of adult learning and education in the lives of adults in Latin America
The mere chance of accessing offers for adults to accomplish their unfinished school career holds manifold benefits for all those who could not accomplish their formal schooling for various reasons, such as poverty, migration, providing support for parents, or illness.
Whether it’s from Idalia, Gina and David from Colombia, or Carmen, Gladys and Luis from Ecuador, or Vanessa and Jose from Peru, or Diogenes and Tiffany from Venezuela, these ten testimonials bear witness of the inestimable value of adult learning and education (ALE) and its impact on the lives of people by raising their self-confidence and expanding their potential to contribute to community life.
Idalia from Colombia
“There was a lot of desire in the participants to learn and to get ahead, because there were people enrolled that didn’t even know how to read and write…”
Idalia
Idalia herself only finished one year of schooling by the age of 10, but went back to complete her elementary school education at the age of 22, studying at night. And she couldn’t continue because the programme was implemented far away from her home. But then she got the opportunity to participate in a foundation-led programme called “Resignify life: a way to peace”, which gave her the opportunity for further studies close to her home.
Vanessa from Peru
“One day, I heard that there would be the possibility to enrol in educational programmes for people who have not finished high school. And I really wanted to, because I wanted to continue studying and have a profession, a career. So I signed up.”
Vanessa
Vanesa lives in Camporredondo, a small village of 44,500 inhabitants in the Amazonian region of Peru, with her husband and two daughters. She completed basic education in her birth town and moved to Lima with her parents where – due to financial reasons – she could not finish primary school. Harvesting coffee, caring for the baby, housework and homework with her daughter does not leave much time. Basic education is offered through social media, which is challenging because often there are electricity cuts, the phone line breaks down and Internet is not available. In light of all the difficulties, Vanesa demonstrates her resilient attitude:
“But when you want to improve yourself, there are no obstacles.”
With the support of DVV International, its partner Enseña Peru has established a small community education centre in Camporredondo. Vanesa is one of the participants in the basic skills courses.
Ten audiovisuals showing the benefits of adult learning
The regional office of DVV International South America, based in Quito, Ecuador, has produced ten audiovisuals that were used, among other things, in the form of radio programmes, providing evidence of the learning process and the impact of learning on their lives. The videos with the titles CONTRA VIENTO y MAREA, AGAINST ALL ODDS, GEGEN ALLE WIDRIGKEITEN, were produced with the professional support of ALER (La Asociación Latinoamericana de Educación y Comunicación Popular).
The original testimonies in Spanish, with subtitles in English and German, can be accessed via YouTube. They can be used in any programme to visualise the situation and benefits of what it can mean to have access to ALE offers in Latin America.
The author
