DAWN OF THE PEOPLE explores the methods and achievements of an experiment in education labeled by the United Nations as "the most important of this generation" - the 1980 Nicaraguan Literacy Crusade.

In that year, 70,000 young people from the cities went to the countryside to teach others how to read and write. Using methods based on the theories of Paulo Freire, they succeeded in reducing the illiteracy rate from 52% to 13% by the end of the crusade.

"This film takes views into actual classrooms where the young teachers an their students share their experiences of learning."—Sightlines

"A poignant picture of what the literacy campaign meant to the Nicaraguans... an excellent tool for erasing some of the myths surrounding the Sandinistas and the nature of their revolution."—Beth Bates, In These Times

"A moving tribute to the teenaged teachers (brigadistas) and the barrios's peasants and people (of all ages) who were their students... strongly recommended."—E.M. Dew, Choice