In 1965, UNESCO declared September 8 as International Literacy Day. Since this proclamation, schools, organizations and communities around the world have united to promote awareness with the hope to one day eradicate this ongoing human rights violation.

 

Literacy is a human right and the basis for lifelong learning. It empowers individuals, families and communities and improves their quality of life. Because of its “multiplier effect”, literacy helps eradicate poverty, reduce child mortality, curb population growth, achieve gender equality and ensure sustainable development, peace and democracy. Approximately 775 million people - 64% of whom are women - are functionally illiterate. In other words, they lack the basic reading and writing skills to manage daily living and employment tasks.  International Literacy Day gives children and communities a chance to rediscover the joys of reading while raising awareness for those without access to education.

 

At WaterBridge Outreach we are working to advance education and improve literacy by donating books in English and local languages to schools and libraries in developing countries, while also engaging with local communities in these countries to provide the clean water and sanitation that are essential to the infrastructure for education and literacy projects.

 

This year, as we have done for the past four years, WBO’s small and dedicated team selected sets of books for each of the schools, libraries, (including two mobile libraries on motorbikes in Tamil Nadu) and literacy resource centers we donate to in the Philippines, Haiti, India, Tanzania, Pakistan and Malaysia. Our aim, working with teachers and librarians, is to put these book sets into the hands of children in different parts of the world who would otherwise not have access to them.  The books are specifically selected by WaterBridge Outreach so that they fulfill WBO’s goals of promoting greater multicultural understanding and empathy for others from cultures different from their own, and of promoting reading and literacy as a means to education and overcoming poverty. Visit our Projects Now page to learn more about our projects and visit our Books + Literacy page to read articles by Dr. Barbara Bundy, WaterBridge Outreach's Coordinator for Books + Education, entitled A Look at the Books Donated by WaterBridge Outreach in 2015 and WaterBridge Outreach's Books + Literacy Program.

 

On September 8th, join with us as we show the world the importance of literacy by celebrating International Literacy Day. Visit the official website and see how communities around the globe are raising awareness for those who cannot read or write. Take the time to rediscover the joys of reading while giving your support to ensure that children and adults have the literacy skills they need to lead happy, productive and fulfilling lives. To help support WaterBridge Outreach’s literacy projects make a tax-deductible, secure contribution by clicking here. 

 

Published September 2015.

 

To access our archive of Books + Literacy Updates click here.