Our theme for September is gratitude – and, by extension, how those of us who are relatively fortunate can really make a difference in the lives of those who have fewer advantages. Here’s today’s story:
When our board president Beth Prentice was visiting Nepal a number of years ago, a woman from one of our previous project areas told her a remarkable thing. Before participating in ETC’s literacy classes, this woman could not even read the bus schedule and had to ask for help. Sometimes, people would mock or belittle her, or even deliberately give her incorrect information by telling her to get on the wrong bus. Since gaining literacy and numeracy skills through ETC, she no longer has to worry about that happening, and she can do many other things like write her name and keep records about her own agricultural product sales and profits. She is, of course, delighted and grateful – and we too are grateful to have been able to help her and countless others.
Most of us take for granted the ability to perform such everyday tasks, but for this woman and so many others, their newly gained skills are truly life-changing and immensely confidence-boosting too. THANK YOU for making it possible through your support of ETC’s work!