In the context of the Na No Mon – Community Platform, the Women's Empowerment and Literacy Project is a community project led by the Association of Young Volunteers and Friends of Plack-1, which aims to empower women through literacy training. 

Education is a key element for the development of any country. In Guinea-Bissau, according to data from the general population and housing census of 2009, 62.1% of women could not read or write. The illiteracy rate is still very high in the country and affects mainly women, who for various cultural and social reasons often cannot complete their education, terminating their schooling early on to take up other responsibilities in the household. In the worst cases, young women and girls are subjected to forced early marriages or child labour. Thus, basic education is not considered a top priority for women, limiting the role they can play in the economic, social and political spheres. 

The Women's Empowerment and Literacy project, in view of these facts, seeks to reverse the trend to overcome situations that put women's rights at risk, and at the same time, allows for the construction of a fairer and more equitable society, with equal opportunities for all. 

Currently, 104 women are attending the literacy programme, and 10 young people are facilitators of the training courses. Initially, lessons were taught three times a week, but a special request was made from women who are attending the courses for the number of days to be increased. As a result, classes are now held 5 days a week,  from Monday to Friday. This outcome demonstrates engagement, interest and willingness to learn by the participating women. The books used for these training are Portuguese language and Mathematics books. Parallel to the aim of the literacy course, some awareness-raising is being carried out, including on topics such as sexually transmitted diseases, measures to limit the spread of Covid19 and basic sanitation. These activities are carried out in seven centres in the areas of Plack1, Bissak and Bairro Militar.  

The expected impact of this project is to contribute to increasing the literacy rate of women, youth and girls in the Plack-1 neighbourhood, while strengthening the training capacity of literacy course facilitators and members of the organization executor for expanding the effort in other neighbourhoods. 

Women have an enormous burden of responsibility in Bissau-Guinean society because they represent the pillar of the family in terms of subsistence and education of children. As such, it is easy to understand the impact this project can have on their lives. The courses taught do not only allow the social inclusion of literate women but also open up opportunities for these women to participate in the decision-making processes within the community, improve their business activities, as well as facilitate the monitoring of their children's education.