The FreeSchools World Literacy Charity was incorporated
in July 2005 in Ontario, Canada and consits of a Board of Directors,
an International Advisory Board, and two volunteer Field Coordinators
Mark Bloomfield in Thailand and Sister Crescence in India.
In the U.S., FreeSchools is a service project of InnerLife International Inc.
History
FreeSchools began in 1999 in a convent school in Motihari, Bihar, India.
British humanitarian Mark Bloomfield and Sister Crescence, Mother General
of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, devised a simple cost-effective
model for educating desperately poor children who would otherwise never
go to school. Regarded as backward, corrupt and lawless, the state of
Bihar is a rough place to be born female. It's considered the infanticide
center of India where nationally over 150 million baby girls have been
butchered in the last 25 years. 60% of Bihari girls are malnourished
and 62% of girls age 6 to 14 are not attending school. Only 23% of women
in Bihar are literate, meaning 25 million women are illiterate.
How FreeSchools Works
Using existing schools during normal closing hours, retired female teachers
are hired to teach an "essentials only" syllabus. Priority
but not exclusivity is given to girls and there is no proselytizing
or religious discrimination. The students agree to teach their siblings
what they learn each day. Reading, writing, arithmetic, health protection,
crafts, income generating skills and civics are taught for two hours
each afternoon in otherwise empty classrooms. A high protein meal and
a set of clothes are also provided free of charge. The cost for a whole
year of education for one child is indeed a bargain - just $15.
Replicating The Model
The FreeSchools model is successful and simple to replicate. With the
help of The FreeSchools World Literacy Charity, Mark Bloomfield is currently
working with Thai education authorities to open a teacher training center
in Koknoi and a network of FreeSchools among the hill tribes and Burmese
refugee camps. Sister Crescence will open 8 new FreeSchools this year
bringing annual enrollment up to 1000. Eventually there will be thousands
of FreeSchools across India and all of Asia. Since Asia is home to half
the human race with 30% illiteracy, this part of the world will be our
focus for the next 20 years.
Why Support Literacy?
The United Nations' Decade of Literacy - Education for All campaign
aims to provide the opportunity for every child to learn to read and
write. Education will help reduce violence, terror, inequity and disease.
In developing nations, ignorance, poverty and despair trap families
in desperate circumstances and work a particular hardship on women and
children. Literacy can help alleviate the acute and wide-spread suffering
of innocent people as well as serve to under gird international cooperation
and global security.
Why Prioritize Girls' Education?
As future mothers and teachers, girls are given priority because there
are fewer opportunities for them. They face numerous barriers such as
deeply-rooted cultural and religious norms, poverty, discrimination,
safety, and AIDS. A lack of teachers, text books and separate bathroom
facilities often prevent girls from attending school. Even the most
modest fees, uniforms and transportation are beyond the reach of impoverished
families. Girls often skip childhood, burdened by enforced labor and
sibling care and marry as young as age 10. India is second only to China
in population and has the most child labor in the world. Three times
as many girls as boys die, often from malnutrition or murder. Many are
sold into prostitution or bonded labor to ease the family's economic
hardship.
International economists agree that the single best investment
to improve the well-being and economic prospects of developing nations
is girls' education.
Female literacy is linked to delayed marriage, fewer and healthier children
improved economic prospects, better parenting and more democratic civic
participation.
"Study after study has taught
us that there is no toll for development more effective than the education
of girls and the empowerment of women. No other policy is as likely
to raise economic productivity, lower infant and maternal mortality,
or improve nutrition and promote health, including the prevention of
HIV/AIDS."
(UN Secretary General Koki Annanm, 2004)
BREAKING THE CYCLE OF IGNORANCE
& POVERTY Free Schools World Literacy
Silver Springs, RR #4 Flesherton,
ON Canada N0C 1E0
1-800-546-5601
Thank you for your support
Only 23% of women in Bihar are literate
British humanitarian Mark Bloomfield
in India
The students agree to teach their siblings
InnerLife International
is an umbrella member-based organization,
registered as a 501(c)(3)in the U.S. InnerLifeInternational@gmail.com
