Growing up in a family that didn’t prioritize education and supported early marriage, Maryam faced difficulties arising from this background regarding her education. She is a preserved woman from Al Adaima Village in Luxor Governorate. Mariam managed to start her own small business; a kiosk selling chips and drinks. Maryam mentioned that she faced a lot of issues when it came to managing her business as the following “While I tried to manage my small business, I faced challenges in terms of reading, writing, and basic mathematical skills. It had negatively impacted my small business, and I couldn’t manage it well. I struggled with basic calculations when dealing with customers. I got really sad back then, as it was my only source of income, but it was already falling apart.”

She continues “As the time passed, I heard about BLESS literacy courses, and I was encouraged by field workers to join, so I decided to pursue my education. They assisted me throughout the process, and after 9 months of joining the courses, I passed the course exam and obtained the certificate. I learned how to read and write and mathematical skills. This helped me manage the finances of my project, and will assist me to expand and grow my small income project.”