Farasiko is an adult learner from Kijumba, Butiti, Lwanda, Rakai district. At 3 years, he became physically disabled due to Polio. At school, he was bullied by fellow children.

The children used to imitate how I walk; this discouraged me and I quit school before I learned how to read, write or count.

Farasiko never returned to school after this. He narrates his illiteracy woes: a friend rescued him from appending his thumb print on a fake land agreement - for a piece of land that he had been manipulated into buying by an unscrupulous seller who knew that he was illiterate.

Banange! Obutasoma buluma bukulu.
Illiteracy is painful and costly.

Confronted with illiteracy challenges, Farasiko enrolled in a 2-year ICOLEW programme which was introduced in his home area by Unbound Kampala, a community development organisation. Farasiko is now able to write his name and is able to read and write simple words with comprehension in Luganda. He is focused on attaining numeracy skills to improve his farm records.

Farasiko’s story depicts vulnerabilities that illiterate people, especially many persons with disabilities, face. It further draws duty bearers’ attention to the need to strengthen Adult Learning and Education (ALE) by increasing funding for ALE programs as a catalyst for poverty eradication.

Farasiko has difficulty walking to the learning centre and is hoping to find a good Samaritan to provide him with a tricycle to help him move more easily in the community.