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Paid Letter Writers do the Writing for the Illiterate in Afghanistan

Posted Thursday, January 29, 2009

Featured on Episode 17 of the 2008-2009 season

 

In a world of Blackberrys, text messaging and emails, many Afghans still rely on letter writers. In cities across Afghanistan, men sit on small stools with papers and applications ready for business, and business is booming. 72% of Afghanistan is illiterate, making this pen a powerful tool.

Lesson Plan

In Afghanistan we see a country with people who can’t read or write and desperately want to write letters. In our own country, people can read and write, and letter writing has become a lost art.

Grades: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
Subjects: Social Studies
Standards Addressed: Students will be able to write letters that state the purpose, make requests or give compliments and use letter format.

Download the lesson plan PDF

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