ARTICLE - ALPHABETIZATION

DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES TO 750 NEW LITERATES
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, has proceeded, Friday, March 30, to the delivery of certificates to 750 new literates, under the literacy program of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP), together with the Secretariat of the State of Literacy.

The ceremony took place at the municipal palace of Delmas, in the presence of Réginald Paul, the Minister of MENFP, Ms. Milaine Alexandre, the Secretary of State for Literacy, the Mayor Wilson Jeudy, of the Ambassadors of Venezuela and Cuba in Haiti, respectively: Pedro Antonio Canino González and Ricardo Garcia Nápoles, whose countries contributed to the literacy program in Haiti.

Speaking to new recipients, the Head of State declared, "I congratulate all of you who have made the ​​efforts to learn to read and write [...] This is a good thing! Your efforts will be rewarded [...] I always say: the country's reconstruction must first go through the reconstruction of every Haitian."

The 750 new literates, came from five municipalities of the department of the West, and are part of the 18,000 learners of the Alpha Center. They learned to read and write between September and December 2011. In total, more than 52,000 people have become literate. Milaine Alexander showed her appreciation, but believes, as the Head of State, that there is still much to do.

President Martelly expressed his thanks to the Government and people of Venezuela and of Cuba. These countries, who believe that the literacy program is a strategic project allowing to 'illuminate' (educate) the people, and to continue to support the Haitian authorities. "We will struggle until the final victory," declared the Venezuelan Ambassador.

According to the Cuban ambassador, Ricardo Garcia Nápoles, 5 million people will be literate in the coming years as part of the tripartite cooperation, Haiti-Cuba-Venezuela. He calls for the collaboration of the international community to achieve this goal. The teaching method "Wi mwen kapab", experienced by Cuba, and which was used successfully in over 20 countries, was applied in Haiti for this learning.

According to Minister Réginald Paul, thousands of trainers and inspectors, have already been trained to be able to help others.