What difference does a social practice approach to adult literacies education make to adult learners' quality of life in Western Rwanda?

Provision of quality adult education has the potential to make a difference in the lives of adult learners especially those from poor and marginalised backgrounds. In this chapter, we report on the effect of implementing a social practice approach to adult literacies education in rural communities in three districts in Western Rwanda. Following the implementation of a social practice approach to adult literacies education, we interviewed a sample of 32 participants, two or three years after they completed adult classes, to understand what impact the classes may have had on improving their lives and wider capabilities. The findings indicate that a social practice approach to adult literacies education impacted participants in connection with health, hygiene and sanitation, nutrition, improved marital relationships, better support for children's education, and greater community involvement. Adult learners developed greater understanding and practical grasp of life skills, social competence, positive self-image, and personal and family wellbeing while developing their literacies. They retained and used the knowledge and skills to improve their lives, that of their immediate households and the wider community. Implications of the findings are discussed.