Literacy for Life

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz visited a secondary school to attend a ceremony for the Adult Literacy Program.

	Francisca de Lima. graduate of the Adult Literacy Program. More Photos and Video

December 16, 2005 — Before these adults could read and write, they could not sign any documents and were only fingerprinted for ID cards.

But in a ceremony today,   two beneficiaries burnt their old ID cards, and signed their names for the first time in an official Brazilian document.

The two were part of a state-wide initiative, which has reached more than 470,000  people.

Francisca de Lima, is 69 years old and one of the beneficiaries from the Adult Literacy Program. “In six months I learned how to read and write and it was worth it." Francisca said, "It changed my life because now I know all that I need to know, I can write my name, I can sign any document that I need, and I can help my grandson with his homework.”

While attending the ceremony,  Wolfowitz made a short statement:

"Bom Dia. I am afraid the rest will have to be in English so, I just wanted to say very briefly it was a very emotional thing to watch these two Brazilians burn those old cards and sign their names, something that for many years you were unable to do. It was very impressive and very moving. It made me very proud as the President of the World Bank to think that we have helped make that happen. But I know that the people who really made it happen are you students and teachers. My grandfather who has been dead for a long time, entered the United States 90 years ago and he couldn't read or write. Like you, he learned to read and write as an adult and I know how much harder it is to learn when you are starting as an adult. These little kids here are lucky. They learn easily. So you need to appreciate how lucky you are and you need to work hard like these adults are working so hard - because what you've done has not only helped yourselves but have set an example for this next generation so they do not have to overcome the disadvantages that you had to overcome and they can go up to an even higher level. So you are an inspiration and a success. So just one last word: obrigado"