MU x BALID – sharing the success of our education programmes

For over 25 years, MU has developed literacy and education programmes in a worldwide effort to prioritise women’s education, regardless of their age, so that no woman is left behind. The overall objective of our Literacy and Financial Education Programme (LFEP) is to combat poverty through adult literacy circles that transition to savings groups, promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

On April 30, MU Acting Head of Literacy and Strategic Partnerships, Naomi Herbert, shared the progress of these programmes in an informal discussion with the British Association for Literacy in Development (BALID), a UK-based NGO. 

Working alongside and in partnership with other NGOs and charities that share our passion only helps to amplify our voice in addressing the challenges millions of women face, limiting their opportunities to an education.  

Through our grassroots network, we can create safe and trusted spaces. Women and MU members can become volunteer facilitators and participants in our programmes. Whilst men are welcome to join, at least 70% of literacy circle participants are women. 

LFEP uses participant-led learning to build self-esteem and confidence, enabling decision-making. Financial empowerment comes from the savings groups established as stage two of the programme, along with the development of business skills to progress financial security and autonomy.  

LFEP creates an entry point for nurturing leadership skills in women and a focus on restoring relationships and strengthening families and communities. In South Sudan, there has been an effort to combine safeguarding with gender-based violence mitigation and prevention; over 22 years, 86% of female and 90% of male programme participants reported reduced sex and gender-based violence in communities (2022).  

Agricultural development is an integrated approach seen in DRC and Rwanda, where female participants have cultivated skills in growing food for consumption, as well as growing food to sell at the market, starting their own business and becoming financially independent and more stable.  

In other countries such as Uganda, MU has contextualised training and tailored specific interventions, including music, drama and dance, in places with strong cultural beliefs that perpetuate gender-based violence. Elsewhere, MU is working with youth in schools to raise awareness of female genital mutilation, with MU in South Sudan combining safeguarding training and trauma healing into their programme activities to tackle gender-based violence. 

LFEP adopts a flexible approach, allowing adaptations to support emerging participants’ needs. The impact of the programme has deepened and been sustained over the years, motivation transformation and direction. It gives hope to families and communities while promoting women’s rights and human dignity.  

As encouraging as the discussion was, with all the above and more shared with almost 50 attendees, there is still more that we can be doing to put women’s education on the global agenda.  

In September 2024, MU launched a new campaign, Empower Her Literacy, to raise awareness of women’s illiteracy and promote the importance of educating women. We started a petition, have contacted the government, and are actively working across the world and around the corner to keep women’s needs the focus. Add your voice and join us in creating a brighter future for women everywhere.