Vernacular literacy is fundamental to the Bible translation program. If people cannot read the scriptures in their own language, then the completed translation will have no impact. For that reason we will be working early on to develop vernacular literacy programs in each of the lower Ramu languages. These literacy programs will have several components.

Writers' workshops were held in each of the language groups in 2003. At these workshops, participants learned to write a number of different types of stories. These stories will then be collected and published. Besides training people to write, these workshops begin the process of producing literacy materials and also help to identify people who have the abilities to serve as translators.

An important part of the literacy program is the development of vernacular pre-schools. The Papua New Guinea government recognizes the value of teaching children to read and write in their own language before they enter community school. Children who attend these pre-schools tend to do much better in community school than those who have not had a similar opportunity. Therefore the government encourages communities to develop these pre-schools. We plan to help assist the various lower Ramu language groups to train teachers, develop materials, and start pre-schools.

Adult literacy will be somewhat informal in nature. Most adults have learned the fundamentals of reading and writing in Melanesian Pidgin or English. For them, it is a straightforward process to transfer those skills to the vernacular. Classes will be held once a week for several weeks to teach those adults to read and write their language.