Empowering Aiwoo Speakers Through Literacy Training

To assist Äiwoo speakers in learning to read and write in their native language, the Mikilinuäve Äiwoo Translation Department recently held a teacher training workshop in the remote atoll village of Ngâmane. The workshop aimed to enhance teachers' ability to use the Äiwoo language reading primer, thereby better teaching local residents.

Church leaders from five regions of the Äiwoo-speaking community identified the participants, who received training on the Äiwoo language reading primer. The two-week training, held from March 17-28, 2025, focused on teaching Äiwoo language basic phonetics, reading, and writing. SITAG literacy experts Martha Matzke and Timothy Matzke facilitated the workshop, introducing participants to the various sections of the reading primer and organizing group exercises.

As part of the training, Gauwâ Primary School allowed teachers to practice at the school, using their newly acquired skills to instruct students. Surprisingly, on the first morning of teaching, the children began reading and writing in Äiwoo, which greatly surprised the teachers. The teachers reported that some children who could not read English were able to read and write in their native language, Äiwoo.

After observing the children learning to read and write in Äiwoo, Gauwä Primary School Principal Emily Bolami stated, "I see that the students are progressing. They can easily write stories and create sentences in Äiwoo, and it will be easy to translate these sentences and stories into English. I think the Ministry of Education should consider promoting this project."

At the end of the training, the newly trained literacy teachers were divided into regional groups to develop literacy promotion plans and identify populations that could benefit from literacy courses, such as school dropouts, adults, youth, and children. At the closing ceremony, many expressed their desire to help Äiwoo speakers who have not yet learned to read their mother tongue. Currently, the New Testament version of the Gospel of Mark is available for readers, and as the Äiwoo language translation work continues, more Äiwoo language scriptures will be published.

This literacy training was made possible by funding from New Zealand donors through Wycliffe Bible Translators. Wycliffe New Zealand places a high value on literacy work and hopes that people will be able to read God's Word in their own language. The Mikilinäve Translation Department hopes to offer literacy courses in the near future. Dorothy Aliko, a member of the translation team, said at the training's closing ceremony that the participants' gratitude for the training received by the new teachers was beyond words. She said the newly trained teachers are determined not to leave any Äiwoo speakers behind and hope that everyone will be able to read Äiwoo language scriptures.