This is a little late getting in, but yesterday was International Literacy Day. Celebrated since 1966, International Literacy Day aims to both celebrate literacy and to highlight the importance its importance both to individuals and society as a whole. Despite this worldwide attention, collective literacy rates remain worryingly low. According to UNESCO's Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010 (click here for a summary), approximately 759 million adults lack basic literacy skills; two thirds of them women. A further 72 million primary school children do not have access to formal education, which significantly lowers their chance of being literate in the future. With targets for MDG2 hanging in the balance with only five more years to go, urgent action needs to be taken.
Here at the YLMP, we not only believe that literacy is imperative for development (for both person and country), but we also believe that society robs itself of massive potential without it. Let's take the case of William Kamkwamba for example. Forced to leave school at 14 due a lack of funds, William continued to satisfy his appetite for knowledge by making regular visits to his local library. It was there that he saw the book that inspired him to build three working windmills from local scrap material that would become a power source for his family and village (initially, he had only planned to generate enough electricity to power a small light bulb in his room to allow him to read past sunset - click here for more details). Literacy opens up all kinds of opportunities, and it is a massive shame that for reasons beyond their control, so many people are denied them.
Our library project at Kinbu is designed with the purpose not only to make books more accessible to students, but also to develop a love for reading. We should all be grateful for the gift of literacy and as besides promoting it, we should try to help others who can read and write make the most of what they have.
No comments:
Post a Comment