In the remote Yehimbole area in Papua New Guinea, Oxfam is using a women’s literacy program as the basis for a broader women’s empowerment campaign. As well as providing basic education and vocational classes, Oxfam and local teachers are working with women to help improve their leadership and decision-making at home and in the community.

“Why I have different types of classes here is because I want [women] to know the letters. They should understand the letters and then come to understand the sounds and then they will understand the words. It’s really amazing, the women are saying … ‘we were crying for this, we want to speak in English for ourselves, and to read in English by ourselves,’ so they can help their families and their children … I am really happy.” Enny Wafigian, Volunteer Teacher, Yehimbole Literacy Program, Papua New Guinea.