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International Literacy Day


It is distressing and staggering that in this day illiteracy is still alive and growing in numbers around the world. The immediate connection between illiteracy and poverty is clear. With specific mention to women, who make up two thirds of the illiterate population, this must change. The following is an except from UNESCO on literacy;

September 08, 2009

Objective:On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally.

September 8 was proclaimed International Literacy Day by UNESCO on November 17, 1965. It was first celebrated in 1966. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. On International Literacy Day each year, UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning globally. Celebrations take place around the world.

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.

As a writer, lover of reading stories and poetry, I support the movement to provide education to those without.

Further to that, I support Wendy Lee and her efforts to bring books to Cameroon, West Africa.
Wendy Lee is a Peace Corps volunteer serving in Cameroon, West Africa. Her project, Books For Cameroon, is aiming to bring 30 bilingual (French & English) libraries throughout regions of Cameroon. Their slogan, 'We are fighting poverty with literacy, 1 latte at a time.'

http://www.booksforcameroon.org/

We can do it one book at a time...

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  1. CynthsSeptember 11, 2009

    It's actually great to have a day to commemorate such an important cause. The rate of illiteracy is alarming and at the same time - regrettable if we can't do anything about it. The government should make stronger moves to educate the people of their countries. And as ASWANI also said in his post, one person can teach another person as a solution to this problem.

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