Literacy for Women on the Streets was designed as a participatory action research project examining the question, “How can literacy activities empower and stabilize the lives of women in the sex trade?” The project involved both the delivery of a literacy program at WISH as well as a process for identifying and documenting how literacy activities could be a positive force in women's lives. We wanted to find out what kinds of literacy activities work for women who are dealing with poverty, substance abuse and violence. What skills are women interested in learning? What kind of a learning environment is supportive? How can literacy play a vital role in healing and survival?

We knew from observing and working with the women that their participation in the learning centre made a difference in their lives. We hoped the research project would give women at WISH an opportunity to tell the broader community about the importance of learning in sex trade workers’ lives. We also believed that other organizations would be interested in understanding how to develop effective literacy programs with women dealing with poverty, violence, prostitution, addictions and instability.

The original objectives of the research project were to:

1. Identify and document ways that women can actively engage in participatory research activities
2. Collectively explore and document the literacy activities that help to empower and stabilize the lives of participants at WISH
3. Identify and document factors that contribute to learning such as location, delivery and types of activities offered
4. Identify how participants can play an active role in addressing issues of concern with partner groups and literacy facilitators
5. Engage women in collaboratively producing a final report of the research results