Last week, 329 adults proudly received their literacy certificates at Ready for Reading, a milestone that represents so much more than learning to read and write. Each graduate carries a story of perseverance, courage and hope.

Meet Pascal, a farmer and one of our newest graduates. Before joining the program, Pascal often fell victim to yield buyers who took advantage of his inability to read metric balances when selling his harvest. “Now,” he says with a smile, “no one can cheat me anymore!”

Pascal’s story captures what this program is all about; empowerment, dignity and possibility. Literacy has given him the confidence to manage his business, support his family and plan for the future.

For every Pascal, there are hundreds more whose lives are being transformed through learning. We celebrate each graduate, our dedicated facilitators and the community that continues to believe in the power of literacy to change everything.