By Philip Yatai

The Care and Action Research Non-Governmental Organisation (CaRE-NGO) , on Monday in Kaduna, held a tea party for students of its adult literacy class to promote the expression of love among people.

The Executive Director of the NGO, Mrs Joy Dogo, said the party was an annual event to demonstrate love and to strengthen the bond between the students, teachers and officials of the organisation.

Other activities at the event include drama, role play, singing and experience sharing.

Dogo said that the NGO began the adult literacy class in 1999 to give adults desiring to learn how to read and write in English language and acquire numeracy skills.

She said that over 1,000 adults had participated in the programme from 1999 to date, adding that some of them had acquired university degrees, diploma certificates among others.

She said that classes were organised into pre-basic class, basic classes 1, 2 and 3 with volunteer teachers teaching subjects such as reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, basic science and civic education.

“We have collaborated with Government Day Secondary School, Sabon Tasha, where some of our students write Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination and proceed to Senior Secondary School.

“The tea party is an annual event for us to come together, drink tea, share experiences, encourage and learn how to share with one another.

“This year’s event coincided with Valentine Day so we decided to make it more colourful,’’ she said.

One of the students, Hauwa Samuel, 43, a mother of five, said that she began taking the class in January to learn how speak and write in English language.

“When I came here, I did not understand English except come and go, but now I can speak little English and I am getting better every day,” she said.

Another student, Mrs Christiana Audu said that she had learnt a lot so far including recitation of the National Anthem and the National Pledge.

“My English is getting better and I can write simple sentences in English language which I could not do before,” she said.

The founder of the NGO, Prof. Bala Dogo, said that the organisation was transforming lives and giving hope to people by empowering adults with basic literacy and numeracy skills.

“Some of them are business women who need to understand basic arithmetic and communication in English language.

“Most of the students are women in their late 40s including the wives of pastors who reside in remote villages but want to know how to speak in the English language,’’  he said.