For many illiterate adults, the shame they feel keeps them from getting the help they need. But curiosity overtakes embarrassment as they see positive changes our programs have made in their children’s academics, reading skills and behaviors and changes in their neighbors’ lives, who had the courage to enroll in our literacy classes. They see them getting jobs as community health workers, starting up small businesses, getting ahead as members of women’s co-ops and micro-finance initiatives. All because they can read and write.