Photo: Andr

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Photo André de Moraes Sarmento
Solidarity in Literacy outlines education
partnership network
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Who we are
Solidarity in Literacy (AlfaSol) is a nonprofit
civil entity, acknowledged as Federal Public
Interest. AlfaSol was founded in 1997 and is
located in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Mission
Reduce high illiteracy indexes and enlarge EJA -
Youth and Adults Education public offering in
Brazil.
Photo Zuleika de Souza
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What do we do?
Strengthening Educational Programs for Youth and
Adults
Reading Incentive Program
Diversity Attention Program
International Cooperation Program
Reference Center in Youth and Adult Education -
CEREJA
Digital Education Program
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For whom?

• Youngster over 15 years of age and illiterate or
  little educated adults
• Local educators qualification
• Structuring and strengthening of Youth and Adult
  Education municipal policy (Municipal Education
  Secretary)

Photo Marcio Garcez
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Why?

• Brazilian Scenario
• In 1997, 1990 IBGE Census the universe of
  absolute illiterates over 15 years of age
  represented 19,4 of Brazilian population
• 2000 IBGE Census 16 million of illiterates over
  15 years of age
• INAF / Instituto Paulo Montenegro 74 of adult
  population is functionally illiterate
• 2006 Data from PNAD - National Household Sampling
  Survey, annually disclosed by IBGE, there still
  are 14,6 million absolute illiterates in Brazil.

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Where?
13,5
12,1
25,4
15,5
16,8
28,4
26,5
29,7
30,5
24,5
33,4
18,8
24,5
13
25,2
23,1
12,4
5,7
13
12
11,7
11,2
6,6
6,6
9,5
6,3
6,7
Source IBGE 2000
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How?
Through a simple initial literacy model, low
cost, based on a partnership systems with
different society sectors.
network
retis
Latin
Thread intertwining with regular clearances that
form a kind of woven fabric
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Results
During 11 years of operation, AlfaSol and its
partners network achieved significant results

• 5,3 million Brazilians attended
• 244 thousand qualified literacy teachers
• 2.099 municipalities attended in Brazil
• 102 partner Institutions of Higher Education
  (IES)
• 182 partner private and government Institutions

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Results
The results facing the challenge to attend
millions of youngsters and adults in a country as
large as Brazil aroused international interest.
AlfaSol developed the International Cooperation
Program already carried out in 5 countries East
Timor, Mozambique, St. Thomas Prince, Cape
Verde and Guatemala.
Classroom in Mozambique
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Partnership Network towards Illiteracy Decrease
in Brazil
Territory
Municipal Secretaries of Education
Institutions of Higher Education (IES)
Partners of AlfaSol Programs
Photo Eduardo Tavares
COMMUNITY
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Networks Partners and Dynamics
The partners network effectiveness to decrease
illiteracy in Brazil is mostly due to each social
player co-responsibility when performing its role.

• Solidarity in Literacy
• Municipal Education Secretaries
• Institutions of Higher Education (IES)
• Partners of AlfaSol Programs

• Public Authorities / Governmental Institutions
• Multilateral Organizations
• Private Institutions
• Individuals

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Challenges and Benefits

• Challenges
• 14,6 millions of absolute illiterates
• Geographic dimensions of Brazil
• Support and strengthen EJA public policies
  nationwide
• Keep Network members involvement and common
  objectives
• Manage interest conflicts
• Extend number of Network partners.

• Benefits
• National impact - different types of
  organizations mobilized towards the cause
• Attendance capacity
• Impact on Youth and Adult Education public
  policies
• Social investment in locations with low IDHm.

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Impacts
The census carried out in 1991 showed that 19,7
of Brazilian population did not know how to read
and write in 2000, such rate dropped to 12,8,
registering a 32,3 decrease. In the final
report, IBGE researchers state that "such
improvement specially in the population over 15
years old reflects, partially, the efforts of
Solidarity in Literacy Program (non-governmental
organization), whose objective is to reduce
illiteracy indexes in Brazil and sponsor Youth
and Adults Education (EJA) public offering".
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Impacts
Rate evolution of Youth and Adults Education
EJA enrollment in Brazilian municipalities from
2000 to 2006
Source IBGE Demographic Census (2000). INEP/ MEC
School Census (2000 to 2006). ATEC - Solidarity
in Literacy Technical Advisory Board (2000 to
2006).
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Indicators

• 1st year operation - 1997
• 9,2 thousand Brazilians attended
• 442 qualified literacy teachers
• 38 municipalities attended in Brazil
• 38 partner Institutions of Higher Education (IES)
• 11 partner private and government Institutions

• 1997 to 2006
• 5,3 million Brazilians attended
• 244 thousand qualified literacy teachers
• 2.099 municipalities attended in Brazil
• 212 partner Institutions of Higher Education
  (IES)
• 182 partner private and government Institutions

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Assessment
Since its creation, it is AlfaSol institutional
practice to systematically assess its Programs
and Projects, a continuous assessment process of
quantitative and qualitative data on Youth and
Adults Education in the municipalities attended.
Monitoring and assessment system

• Quantitative
• Qualitative

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Communication
National mobilization towards the cause, through
the Adopt a Student Campaign.
Communication vehicles and tools are used to
render public the work developed, results
achieved and keep each network partner informed
and committed to its role

• Magazine Escrevendo Juntos
• Newsletter Empresas
• Newsletter IES
• Newsletter Municípios
• Newsletter Cidadão Solidário
• Newsletter CEREJA

• Annual Trajectory
• Annual Report
• Composition Contest Book
• Module Assessment
• Scientific Magazine
• Press Relations.

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Challenges and Opportunities
Success critical factors

• Make the cause known to the public and provoke
  mobilization and responsiveness towards it
• Manage and signalize the direction and objectives
  of the partners network
• Dynamically engage with the partnership network
• Always share the challenges and results achieved
• Clear up and continuously inform the role and
  relevance of each Network partner
• Establish direct and continuous communication
  with every partner
• Manage interest conflicts among different
  partners
• Strengthen developed actions extending the impact
  of results and provoking effective
  transformations for the society.

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Contact

• Claudia Amalfi Marques
• claudiaam_at_alfasol.org.br
• (11) 3372 4311
• www.alfasol.org.br