PANA V : Evaluation of a Literacy Project

PANA V Evaluation of a Literacy ProjectSUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSThis evaluation set out to explore the impact of the literacy work carried out through PANA V. It focussed on clarifying effects such as empowerment and poverty reduction in relation to the civil society. Two specific objectives were to evaluate the methodological approach and the didactic materials and to evaluate the sustainability of the project.Although the focus of the evaluation has been PANA V, the project has been evaluated in its context, as one in a series of five projects located in Rwanda ten years after the war and genocide. The conclusion will consider future plans in this field.The evaluator has striven to create a holistic picture of the effects of the project, although the given time for the evaluation was short. Only three weeks were spent in the field study and only ten days in the actual field. Although there were some organisational and logistic problems, as is common when carrying out a study like this in a poor country, many literacy sites were visited and quite many participators were interviewed. The overall impression from the study is overwhelmingly positive. So many people commit themselves in this task of teaching Rwandans reading, writing and numeracy. Despite harsh conditions learners strive to learn and group leaders devote themselves to the task. Many leaders on different levels try their very best to manage their difficult and demanding task. The main objective was to explore the impact of the project on poverty reduction, particularly on empowerment and strategies for everyday life. Women were to be regarded particularly. From the results it is clear that the project has a strong, positive impact both on poverty reduction and empowerment of marginalised groups. Among those who have benefited from the alphabetisation are mainly women. Unfortunately, when it comes to leaders in PANA, who may also be said to have benefited from the project, only a small minority is women. This is something that is recommended that it be reconsidered inside the organisation. As a majority of the targeted learners are women, and as the economic and social situation of women in Rwanda is generally weak, this is a question that I recommend the Pentesostal church and ADEPR to look particularly into. With many women being single breadwinners of their households, it is important that also women get access to positions that may bring benefits of different kind.It is also clear that the project has positive effects for the civil society. In the present situation in Rwanda, during the process of reconciliation and rapid progress, basic education for the poor majority is a democratic issue. In a country with a plethora of internet-cafés in the capital and a small minority that use cars and mobile-telephones to communicate nation-wide, it is of outmost importance that the majority acquires basic education, of which literacy is a central part. To strengthen the civil society in Rwanda literacy is important. One central issue is then that Rwanda develops toward becoming a country where literacy is used for the benefit of the citizens and it is a democratic issue that all citizens get an opportunity to participate. Crucial for this is that strong efforts are put into primary schools nation-wide. Literacy projects for adults, like PANA, may only complement these efforts, but they constitute important and necessary complements. Other relevant ways to promote literacy are campaigns in Radio and TV and through cultural events such as festivals, music and theatre. News papers, magazines and books are natural parts of such campaigns as well as adult education. As stated under the results not much can be said about the didactics in this evaluation. On the whole the methodology and the materials fill their function well and receive a high reputation. As people learn to read and write under very simple conditions, obviously the approach is appropriate. A few suggestions may be given from the study:•Focus groups leaders’ attention on clearness, that they show very clearly what is to be read. Good structuring is probably of great importance for many learners.•Make clear what is tested in the tests and consider the possibility to use a holistic test that would be more congruent with the methodology. The possibility to use only one grade, pass, would enable a more practical test, such as reading a short, relevant text, writing something relevant and solving practical mathematic problems. Avoid tests that demand school knowledge.•Avoid using methaphors such as “fight against illiteracy” and connections between illiteracy/literacy and darkness/light. It is not true that illiteracy causes bad things and that literacy only brings good. •Be prepared that it may be more difficult in the future to achieve the goals as it may be the case that the early learners where the ones who achieved easily. The goal of “literacy in six month” in PANA will probably hold only for some learners but also those who do not manage in six months need literacy skills.A third objective was to secure sustainability. As for sustainability of the project in itself, and of the literacy process, the main conclusion is that there is a good potential. The commitment and devotedness among many involved in PANA proves good. One weakness is individual leaders in ADEPR who do not see this as an important task for the Pentecostal church in Rwanda. Other weaknesses are the unwillingness to mention explicitly the wish, for example among group leaders, to get some kind of incentive and the fear of loosing believers by cooperation with other organisations. A higher degree of transparency in this issue would probably solve some irritations and tensions.As for the sustainability of the literacy skills much may be done to improve. The acquired skills seem to be comparably relevant. The level achieved, and the level tested, may be defined as basic literacy skills, consisting of basic reading, writing and numeracy skills. However, these skills are very restricted and there is a high risk that the skills will decline, which means that there is a high risk that people will forget how to read and write because of lack of exercising. From these conclusions a few suggestions for future development will be given.

Change through Tradition in the Work of 'Zulu Sofola Rehearsal Presentation Outline

This paper highlights the struggle Nigerian playwright 'Zulu Sofola underwent to impart her message. She attempted to confront gender oppression through tradition without contradicting herself in her play, 'Wedlock of the Gods.' ‘Zulu Sofola wrote commentaries about social problems and the influence of Western culture. Her goal was to maintain a traditional framework in the face of encroaching Western perspectives. She advocated enacting change through tradition, irrespective of Western ideologies about change. Sofola focused on gender oppression as a social problem. She intended to address gender oppression rooted in tradition by teaching traditional customs to her audience in order for audiences to make informed and progressive decisions about what to change within traditional practices. Thus, her traditionalist approach to change requires cognizance and recognition of tradition as an initial step. Sofola argued against the influences of Westernization that shift the focus of change from confronting customs through tradition to confronting customs through Western ideology.

The Apple of His Ire: For monologist Mike Daisey, the death of Steve Jobs was another defining moment in a remarkable career

Monologist Mike Daisey ’96 had been targeting Apple and Steve Jobs for a year. Then Jobs died and Daisey’s show was changed once again.

Activity of sesame leaf extracts to the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera : Formicidae)

Crude extracts of new and old sesame leaves (Sesamum indicum, Linaeus) obtained by a sequential process of extraction were tested through contact experiments to investigate their toxicity to Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel) workers. Methanol extract of old leaves was toxic to leaf-cutting ants at the lower tested concentration (20mg.ml(-1)). This extract was fractioned and their fractions were tested showing a toxic effect of the methanol fraction. The methanol fraction was fractioned again and the sub fraction responsible for worker's toxicity is composed of some sugars.

Substrate Preparation Behaviors for the Cultivation of the Symbiotic Fungus in Leaf-Cutting Ants of the Genus Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Our findings revealed two distinct patterns of substrate preparation: the pattern of leaf-cutting ants foraging on dicotyledons is marked by highly fragmented substrate resulting in a more advanced initial decomposition. The pattern of leaf-cutting ants harvesting grasses is characterized by large pieces of substrate, resulting in little initial decomposition. Ants foraging on both types of plants are apparently intermediary between the two patterns, although more similar to the patterns of those foraging on dicotyledons. Also, the behavior of scraping the substrate was described for the first time, it is very important for the removal of the epicuticular wax layer of the leaves helping the growth of the symbiotic fungus.

Behavioral Repertoire of Basal Fungus-Growing Ant Sexuals (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Parental Nest

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Attractiveness of Different Citrus Pulps to the Leaf-Cutting Ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The most common control method Uses toxic baits consisted of dehydrated citrus pulp as carrier and attractant. However, the portion of the citrus fruit that is attractive to ants is still Unknown, despite its importance in chemical control. This study compared the attractiveness of different fruit parts of citrus pulps to Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers. Three treatments: pellets of industrial citrus pulp, albedo (mesocarp), and whole citrus pulp were offered randomly to ants and the removal of these substrates by workers was observed. Tie three pulps Were equally attractive to this species (F = 0.8033; p = 0.4633). Although the whole pulp included the epicarp, it was as attractive as the other treatments, possibly because, the material was heated during processing, eliminating any volatile substance that could repel ants.

House-infesting Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in a Municipality of Southeastern Brazil

In Brazil, since the studies on urban ants started only in the 1980's, the urban myrmecofauna is still poorly known. Therefore, we herein carried out a survey of the myrmecofauna associated with residences in the municipality of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil, with the aim of verifying the existing ant species and their dynamics, which may be used in pest management programs. For this survey, baits and manual collection were utilized in the peridomiciles and intradomiciles of 38 houses. 4,308 samples were obtained, 51% of which presented ants, from five subfamilies, 18 genera and 19 species. The predominant subfamily was Myrmicinae, with 8 species. The predominant species was Tapinoma melanocephalum. In the intradomicile, during the diurnal period, the most visited rooms were the kitchen and the living room; during the nocturnal period, the kitchen was the most visited room.

Dispersion of Seeds of Tree Species by the Leaf-Cutting Ant Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Vicosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Occurrence of Atta laevigata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the South of Espirito Santo State, Brazil. Recently Introduced or Endangered Species?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relationship Between Population Size and Symbiont Fungus Culture Volume in Colonies of Acromyrmex balzani (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

In order to quantify the population of Acromyrmex balzani Emery, 1890 nests and to verify whether the population dynamic of the colony is correlated with the symbiont fungus volume, the principal energy source of the colony, five nests located in grassland areas were evaluated. The nests were sprayed with neutral talcum powder to improve visualization and digging. The symbiont fungus and the entire population existent in the chambers were collected. The mean fungus volume and total nest population in excavated nests were, respectively, 74.76 ml and 1,095 individuals. Simple linear correlation analysis verified that the fungus volume grew proportionally to the number of individuals. Despite the correlation between fungus volume and population dynamic of colonies, the factors that determine this relationship are little known since other microorganisms live in association with the colony.

Geographic Distribution and Population Estimate of Leaf-cutting Ants of the Genus Acromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Southwestern Bahia

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Growth of the Symbiotic Fungus of the Grass-cutting Ant Atta capiguara (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Effect of Grass Extracts

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Selectivity of Workers of the Grass-Cutting Ants Atta bisphaerica and Atta capiguara (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to Vegetable Oils

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Internal Architecture and Population Size of Acromyrmex subterraneus molestans (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) Nests: Comparison Between a Rural and an Urban Area

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)