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With more than 250 million women in Asia unable to read or write, faith-based mission agency Gospel for Asia (GFA, www.gfa.org) today cited literacy as a “miracle cure” to release women from poverty.
To mark International Literacy Day, Sunday, Sept. 8, the humanitarian organization located in Texas announced it was publishing a new report titled “Literacy: One of the Great Miracle Cures.” The report is available at https://www.gfa.org/press/illiteracy.
“Across Asia today, hundreds of millions of people — especially girls and women – live in extreme poverty with the humiliation of not being able to write their own name,” said GFA founder Dr. K.P. Yohannan. “We aim to change that — and give girls and women the gift of literacy in the love of Christ.”
Across Asia, GFA-supported national workers are teaching thousands of girls and women to read and write, holding classes in cities and villages.
“Every day, our workers witness the power of literacy education to bring change, hope and a better future to individuals and to communities,” Yohannan said. “Literacy is truly a miracle cure.”
Expanding Opportunities
Literacy has a “tremendous power,” Yohannan said, “enabling people to participate fully in society and improve their livelihoods. By God’s grace, we are reducing poverty, improving families’ health and nutrition, and expanding their opportunities.”
Kaavya, a woman suffering from leprosy, fulfilled a lifelong dream when she learned to read at the age of 64. GFA-supported workers visited Kaavya in the leprosy colony and invited her to a literacy class.
“I learned not only reading and writing, but also good habits,” she said. “I will not lose heart because now I can read.”
Women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people, reports UN Women, a United Nations agency. And, according to World Population Review, there are 7.7 billion people in the world today — meaning one in every 10 people cannot read or write.
Literacy: Immeasurable Gift
“To be able to read and write is a gift of immeasurable worth,” said Yohannan, whose mission has served the poor and marginalized in Asia for 40 years.
GFA helps provide literacy education through a network of national workers across Asia, and through the Bridge of Hope child sponsorship program that currently supports more than 70,000 children.
PHOTO CUTLINE: FREED TO READ: To mark International Literacy Day, Sept. 8, mission agency Gospel for Asia today cited literacy as a “miracle cure” to release women and children from poverty.
About GFA World
GFA World (gospelforasia.net) is a leading faith-based global mission agency, helping national workers bring vital assistance and spiritual hope to millions across the world, especially in Africa and Asia, and sharing the love of God. In a typical year, this includes thousands of community development projects that benefit downtrodden families and their children, free medical camps conducted in more than 880 villages and remote communities, over 4,800 clean water wells drilled, over 12,000 water filters installed, income-generating Christmas gifts for more than 163,000 needy families, and teaching to provide hope and encouragement in 110 languages in 14 nations through broadcast ministry. GFA World has launched programs in Africa, starting with compassion projects in Rwanda. For all the latest news, visit the Press Room at https://gfanews.org/news.
