Wolof Values Literacy Program with the Ministry of Education

In March 2009, the EREV Institute signed with the Ministry of Education’s Department of Literacy and Non-Formal Education and Gaia Education to create a new module for Senegal's national literacy curriculum.  This new module in cultural sustainability will complement the existing modules of social, economic, and environmental sustainability, as identified by Ecovillage Design Education (EDE).

The new module will focus mainly on understanding traditional values, in response to the concern voiced by the population of GENSEN's 45 ecovillages. It will examine the changes that long-respected values are undergoing in an era of great change: the rural exodus to an unchecked urban environment. After a research phase, we will develop an overall curriculum and create literacy booklets, including illustrations of the narrative stories, produced by a local artist.

Research Phase
We have begun collecting and analyzing stories that demonstrate Senegalese cultural values, in the form of event narratives. Wolof-literate interviewers (who have recently undergone literacy training) conduct the research and identify important values and stories. The research results will be classified qualitatively and semi-quantitatively to understand important values in Senegalese society. These findings will be validated by focus groups that will discuss values, social problems, and pedagogical materials. These focus groups will be composed of interviewees and representative experts of ministries and other local groups invested in supporting good values.

Methodology
The methodology developed by EREV is informed by a Paolo Freire approach to literacy, in which we aim to reveal the values most prevalent to the population. An initial pre-test research stage identified the importance of using personal events and experiences as a means to determine important values in people’s lives.