Foreign Correspondent: Yes, I Can! Building adult literacy from Havana to Wilcannia via Timor-Leste

Abstract

'It gives you a lot of confidence, you know and builds the self-esteem up in all of us. we're quiet people out here and ever since we've done the yes, i can! campaign we just open up to everyone. you know we just speak out on behalf of our kids you know. we've done a lot and its done a lot for us too.' this snippet from my first conversation with shona1 came after i turned up on her doorstep in wilcannia in 2016, having been directed to her home in the unique small town way, no numbers or street names, just 'turn down the street where you see the painting of an eagle, then it's the third house on your right'. i was at the beginning of my phd journey, had never visited wilcannia before and didn't know anyone in this over-researched, somewhat notorious town in far-west new south wales. but when i explained that i wanted to find out about the impact of the adult literacy campaign which ran four years prior, people were happy to direct me to shona and others who had participated. shona joined the campaign as a literacy student. after graduating she won a role as classroom facilitator, then became the coordinator and today, seven years after the literacy campaign moved on to other towns, is still in full time employment, as are many other graduates. these are huge achievements in wilcannia.