How Will You Observe International Literacy Day?

I recently read these words by a fellow blogger,  “Literacy is a human right”, and I believe that to be true.  Some 774 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 72.1 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out.

The International Reading Association recently the following literacy facts from various studies:

• The per capita income in countries with a literacy rate less than 55% averages about $600.
• Teaching mothers to read can lead to a decrease in infant mortality of up to 50%.
• 98% of all non-literates live in developing countries.

• American business currently spends more than $60 billion each year on employee training, much of that for remedial reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Annual health care costs in the U.S. are four times higher for individuals with low literacy skills than they are for individuals with high level literacy skills.
•  One-half of all adults in U.S. federal and state correctional institutions cannot read or write at all; 85% of juvenile offenders have reading problems.

From ProLiteracy Worldwide: Facts about Literacy, www.proliteracy.org

The importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies is undeniable.  The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed September 8 to be International Literacy Day and has been observed each year since 1967.  It is a day for the international community to reflect on the status of literacy and education opportunities globally and to promote learning.

On International Literacy Day, individuals, organizations, and countries throughout the world renew their efforts to promote literacy and demonstrate their commitment to providing education for all.   I encourage you to ask yourself what you can do to bring attention to this importance cause?

Make a donation to a local school or library, volunteer your time to teach adults and/or children how to read, visit the UNESCO Webpage to learn more about what they are doing to promote education in underserved and economically disadvantaged areas.

Take the time on September 8 to appreciate the opportunities you have been granted and how your education has impacted your life and the life of others.  Where would you be if you had not had the access to the teachers, the resources and the books that have enriched you and made you the person you are today?