The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in partnership with the Ministry of National Education in Charge of Civics Training and the National Commission of the Gabonese Republic, launched a project to promote women and girls’ literacy and economic empowerment through income-generating projects and activities. The project benefits 50 women and girls at the Literacy Center in Libreville.

The three-month project, which kicked off on Monday, February 26, 2024, aims to consolidate the gains of newly literate girls and women through programs of educational support in reading, writing and arithmetic. It also aims to build their professional capacities through applied workshops on running small income-generating projects, provide them with the necessary modern technical skills in the fields of sewing and embroidery, and supply them with literacy programs’ machinery and equipment, in addition to tools to furnish the training hall.

During the Project’s launch ceremony, Ms. Camélia Ntoutoume-Leclercq, Minister of National Education in Charge of Civics Training, commended ICESCO’s leading roles in fighting social vulnerability, improving newly literate girls and women’s income resources, countering unemployment and investing in marginalized groups’ education.

For his part, Mr. Aziz El-Hajir, Program Director at ICESCO’s Education Sector, stressed the significance of literacy programs, small projects and income-generating activities and highlighted their socio-economic impact in developing countries.