Ninety women from the Amani Women's Group in Nairobi, Kenya, are learning to read and gaining small business skills with support from Church World Service and the Kenya Adult Learner's Association (KALA). The women are gaining both functional and economic literacy and capital for small scale businesses that enable them to earn income and feed their families.

KALA is working with women and youth in the Nairobi slums of Mathare Valley and Korogocho, where high rates of illiteracy have perpetuated poverty. The situation is now worsened by the impact of HIV and AIDS. KALA, a national organization, has been in operation for more than 13 years and has taught literacy and adult education to over 75,000 people.

A success story:

"My name is Alice Wanja Thuku. I have five children and a dress making business...

"I decided to participate in the CWS program because ... I wanted to gain business skills so that I could run my business well... Since I joined CWS program, I have many customers because I was able to purchase enough materials with the additional capital that I received. I now make enough money to provide adequate and quality food for my children. My children are never sent home from school for not paying school fees.

"The reward from the CWS-supported program has been enormous as it enabled me to raise the standard of living of my family ... The members of the community have benefited because I charge them less fees than other business people in the area to make a dress. I recruited ten more members to join the Amani Women's Group and they too will benefit from the CWS program. The members of the community are learning a lot from me and I am now the chair person of the group."