March 05, 2004
Project Motivation and Background
One in five adults worldwide does not know how to read. In rural regions of West Africa, up to 75% of the population is illiterate. According to Barbara Garner of the World Education Organization, "It's the lack of resources"—specifically access to books and lighting—rather than the lack of interest in education that contributes to these numbers.
To date, more than 100 students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Cambridge University (UK), and Babson University have contributed to the business planning, design and field testing of a solution since the project’s inception as a DtM design challenge in spring 2002.
A night-time women's literacy course in rural Mali [World Education Organization]
See more pictures from World Education's classrooms.
