The impact of Adult literacy programs to urban refugee communities:a case study of English for Adults (EFA) program at refugee Law project.

Abstract

Using a qualitative case study, this study investigated the impact of English For Adults program run by Refugee Law Project at Old Kampala to urban refugee communities. The study was guided by four objectives which included; establishing the profiles of the participants, scope of the program activities, socio-economic outcomes as well as the challenges faced by the program participants and graduates so as to establish possible solutions for the betterment of the program intended results. To achieve these objectives, the study employed purposive sampling to select study participants and as well interview method to obtain data in relation to the above objectives. Finding of the study also show that, although the program participants have suffered from a number of challenges, on the same hand, the same findings reveal that their participation has come with a number of positive results. Findings show that RLP’s adult literacy programs and in particular EFA have a significant socio-economic impact in the lives of the urban refugees in terms of: obtaining scholarships, qualification for entry into higher institutions of learning, which in turn has boosted their chances of employability (self and salaried employment), living a dignified life as a result of access to life-wide knowledge and information (such as topics x concerning the environment, sexual and gender based violence, refugee rights and obligations, market places among others). The study concluded and recommended that, although there are a number of successes that it has brought to the lives of the urban refugees, there is need to consider other life enhancing skills such as vocational and entrepreneurship so as to increase the socio-economic competitiveness of the program graduates and in particular enable them to start up and manage their livelihood activities.