In 1987, the department of Rio San Juan was declared the first "illiteracy-free territory" in Nicaragua, since it had reduced its rate of illiteracy from 96 percent in 1979 to 3.7 percent. This regional literacy crusade was made possible by the facts that the necessary facilities had been provided; a network of consultative committees established; really active and functioning technical teams had been formed in each zone; and the regional adult education teams had also been involved. The crusade also benefited from the participation of local organizations and from attention from the government. Main factors that contributed to the project's success included the following: (1) the literacy drive was conducted in the context of a broader socioeconomic transformation; (2) the community was mobilized; and (3) the teachers served as catalysts. As a result of this effort, Rio San Juan has gone from being a backward geographical area to being an area of development with a future of its own. (KC)