Pakistan Light through Literacy

Overview

Bible Society Pakistan established this literacy program in 2014 and have been providing Bible-based literacy classes for non-literate Pakistani women since then. Bible Society believe that if a woman is taught to read and write, she becomes a ‘beacon of light’ to her community, with the word of God.

The Need

The current literacy rate for women in Pakistan is one of the lowest in the world, largely due to the social structure that suppresses women’s rights. Without the basic skill of reading and writing, social and economic opportunities are limited for women.

Women’s literacy rates vary throughout the country — from 60+ per cent in the capital city of Islamabad, to less than 20 per cent in some rural areas. Overall, millions are lacking this life skill. Christian women, who mostly live in these rural areas and slums, most likely lack basic literacy skills.

Being a non-literate typically leads to further marginalisation in households, workplaces, and communities. Non-literate women in Pakistan are often restricted to inferior positions at work and an inferior social standing.

non-literate adults in Pakistan.

of the population are women.

women literacy rate

>58m 52% 64% 34% literacy among Pakistani Christian women

Goals

The program teaches women the skills to read, write and understand the Bible, leading to spiritual growth and development for themselves and their whole family. These women are then equipped to impact their communities and encourage the next generation of girls towards education. These women will also be empowered in their daily spiritual lives by being able to read and Open The Bible to their families and communities.

In 2023, this project aims to empower 3,500 - 4,500 women with reading, writing and numeracy skills (such as being able to correctly calculate the wages owed to them, being able to accurately pay utilities bills on time, etc.). This project aims to organise 300 centres throughout the country, training 300 teachers, with an average of 20 students per class.

In 2023, a Teachers Training and Refresher course will be held before starting the classes in February. The classes will run for 9 months, culminating in October 2023.

The project also plans to begin a Program Evaluation via an external organisation in the hope that this will see areas of improvements and ways to scale up the project.

The project will also be distributing Bibles, Scripture portions, a Christian syllabus as well as certificates as awards for the literacy graduates.