Lynn Curtis
Vice President of International Programs, ProLiteracy Worldwide
lcurtis@proliteracy.org

“Literacy for Social Change: A Practical Alternative for Integrating Microenterprise/Microfinance, Literacy, and Community Development”

Presentation Abstract:
For women and men seeking self-sufficiency through small business and micro-finance, lack of literacy skills becomes a major obstacle to success. Even so, many micro-credit professionals find traditional literacy instruction and basic education to be costly and time-consuming distractions for their programs. However through a unique alternative that effectively combines learning, participatory dialogue and action, literacy instruction can become a powerful and motivational tool to advance and even accelerate economic self-reliance. This approach, often referred to as literacy for social change, is currently being applied in community partner programs sponsored by the education and development organization, ProLiteracy Worldwide, in 48 developing countries. In this seminar, learn about cost-effective programs and practical methods for integrating literacy, micro-enterprise and community development. Participate in a sample dialogue, view compelling slides from field projects and reflect on this compelling process of learning and self-reliance.

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Biography:
Lynn Curtis is Vice President of International Programs for ProLiteracy Worldwide (formerly Laubach Literacy) where he advances grassroots learning and development projects in 48 developing nations as well as the U.S. and Canada. Dr. Curtis is an internationally acknowledged authority on literacy and community development in developing nations. He is author of the guidebooks Literacy for Social Change, Picturing Change, and manuals in the Literacy Solutions series - How to Start and Grow Your Own Business, Good Health Begins at Home, and Overcoming AIDS. Dr. Curtis spearheaded ProLiteracy's program expansion from seven countries in 1986 to the current and growing total of 48. Beginning in 1989, Dr. Curtis provided the leadership to initiate and implement ProLiteracy's ten-year Women in Literacy program to reach 1.1 million women through literacy and participant action during the decade of the nineties. His pioneering experience in developing the FAMA and Literacy Solutions training systems provides the basis for ProLiteracy's current program partner expansion, overseas intern placement and multi-national agency collaboration.