Yaya Literacy: Factors to Consider and What to Do if Yaya is Illiterate

Someone once told me that out of desperation, her husband hired a yaya who was referred to them. Although diligent with her work and a quick study, she was illiterate. Not being able to read or write is indeed a challenge. However, is it enough of a reason to let someone go?

 

What Characteristics are Important to You?

The answer to this question lies embedded in another question: what is important to you?
Granting that you have a genuine fondness for your yaya, that she has a good attitude and a genuine work ethic, find as many ways as you can to keep her. Skills can always be taught if necessary, but character is intrinsic.

If the staffer in question was more an all-around house helper or a lavandera or even a cook, I would recommend that your parameters for keeping your staffer are more lenient. Being able to read or write is not necessarily vital to someone who has to clean a bathroom or wash clothes. Similarly, a cook can be taught to make specific dishes even without a recipe. It may take a little more time and patience on your part, but it will be by all means, manageable. However, taking care of your precious child may be a different matter altogether. 

 

Click here to learn more about factors to consider whn yaya is illiterate and how to teach your yaya to read and write.

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Factors to Consider when Yaya is Iliterate

1. Skills beyond basic child care. When hiring a yaya certain skills are expected apart from the usual care given to feeding, bathing and playing with a child. Activities such as reading a book, writing letters and understanding word meanings are also important.

2. Safety. There is also the element of safety to consider. Bringing your child to school, traveling with her, reading signboards, writing down notes and understanding basic instructions may create some challenges for your yaya.

3. Your yaya’s credibility to your child. The age of your child is also a factor to consider. Sometimes, when the child feels that they know more than his or her yaya, basic respect and trust may be absent in their relationship. Your yaya will find it difficult to implement certain rules in your house or to call your child’s attention when he or she misbehaves. Again, her deficiency may lead to general frustration on both your part as well as hers. Since I am of the thinking that dignity work and self-worth are of prime importance, occasions where people are made to feel small, accidentally or otherwise, should be avoided.

 

The Best Alternative: Teach Your Yaya to Read and Write

The other and perhaps best alternative would be to help yaya as she “helps” you. End her illiteracy. TEACH her to read and write. There is no greater gift you can give another person than to empower her through education. CARE enough for your yaya and she will show the same care—the malasakit for you and your family.  As they say, charity begins at home—changing a person’s life for the better can also change yours.

 

Photo from flickr.com