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It’s not just the ambulance that saves lives. Literacy does, too. So when Bamiya, in her 30''s, learned to read in an adult literacy class at Jhuwani Center, she read something lifesaving. Chewing a natural stimulant called a betel nut is a common and seemingly harmless old cultural tradition here. But as it turned out, it’s prohibited, not just because it’s addictive, but because it can be deadly. Through her new literacy, Bamiya learned the betel nut can cause life-threatening problems—from deadly throat and mouth cancers to kidney stones. So not only did she kick the habit, so did her husband, and she takes time out of her day to warn others of the dangers linked to this local tradition. It’s a simple act, but proves once again that literacy saves lives—in her rural village.
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