For many women in rural Rwanda, the inability to read and write can limit opportunities, independence, and economic stability. Florida knows this experience firsthand.
As one of Azizi Life's earliest artisan partners, Florida spent years unable to read or write. While she worked hard to support her family, literacy remained a barrier that affected many aspects of daily life. Determined to create a different future for her children, she enrolled in Azizi Life's adult literacy program.
Through months of study and perseverance, Florida learned to read and write, becoming one of the program's first graduates. Today, she carries greater confidence in both her personal and professional life. Literacy has enabled her to better manage her artisan work, support her family's needs, and encourage the next generation's education.
Florida once shared that although she experienced many hardships because she could not attend school, her children would not face the same challenges. Her journey demonstrates how education can create opportunities that extend far beyond one individual, impacting entire families and communities.
Since 2016, thousands of adults in Rwanda have participated in literacy programs through Azizi Life, helping open doors to economic opportunity, personal growth, and brighter futures.
Story adapted from "Open the Door to Literacy: Florida's Story and Yours" by Marisa Sellman, Azizi Life, September 5, 2025.