Literacy program empowers Rohingya women in Bangladesh
Accelerated learning initiative helps hundreds gain basic reading, numeracy and independence, with individual journeys reflecting wider impact
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — A targeted adult literacy program operating inside Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh is helping hundreds of women and girls gain basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills, offering greater independence in daily life and new pathways toward empowerment.
The Accelerated Adult Learning (AAL) program, implemented through Multi-Purpose Women’s Centers (MPWCs) inside the camps, is designed specifically for adult learners with no prior schooling.
Unlike conventional education models, the initiative combines literacy with practical life skills, enabling participants to navigate humanitarian systems, understand schedules and signboards, and communicate more confidently within the complex camp environment.
The program is supported by U.N. Women, with funding and diplomatic backing from the governments of Japan, Sweden, and Switzerland, and is part of broader efforts to strengthen women’s participation and agency across the Rohingya camps.
According to program data, 349 women and girls — including 227 Rohingya women and 183 Rohingya girls — have already improved their basic literacy and numeracy skills through AAL courses. These foundational abilities are viewed by humanitarian actors as critical stepping stones toward leadership roles, informed decision-making, and income-generating opportunities in displacement settings.
To complement classroom learning, the initiative has also introduced digital support, distributing 72 tablets that allow participants to access reading materials directly and practice literacy skills independently, expanding learning beyond formal sessions.
The impact of the program is perhaps best illustrated through individual participants. One 47-year-old Rohingya woman from Camp 4 — a mother of three who had never attended school — joined the program after years of relying on others to read ration schedules, water collection times, and official notices.
Before enrolling, she was unable to sign her own name, instead using a thumbprint for official documentation — a common practice among illiterate adults in the camps. Through the AAL program at her local MPWC, she learned to recognize numbers, read simple words, understand dates and time, and eventually sign her name independently.
That change, she says, transformed how she navigates camp life. She can now identify service centers, interact with camp offices without assistance, and manage household responsibilities with greater confidence. The experience has also reshaped her aspirations for her children’s education and motivated her to encourage other women in her block to enroll.
The program coordinators say such outcomes reflect the broader purpose of AAL: not only improving literacy but reducing dependency, strengthening resilience, and expanding choices for women living in prolonged displacement.
Humanitarian officials note that literacy gains often act as an entry point to further skills training, including tailoring, handicrafts, and small-scale income activities, particularly when combined with women-only safe spaces like MPWCs.
As funding partners and agencies look to expand women-focused programming in the Rohingya response, the AAL initiative is increasingly cited as a model for how education, dignity, and empowerment can be delivered even in the most constrained humanitarian settings.
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