According to UNICEF’s report, Literacy the Global Challenge, a profile of youth and adult literacy at the mid-point of the United Nations Literacy Decade (2003 – 2012), found that more than 774 million (almost one in five adults) do not have the basic literacy and numeracy skills necessary to fully participate fully in society. In many regions, especially where the population is increasing more rapidly, the illiteracy rate is actually increasing. UNICEF’s report was published in 2008; today it is estimated that at least 793 million people are illiterate. As we enter the last year of the UN Literacy Decade, the fight to ensure all children have the right to read continues.
This week World Read Aloud Day was held on March 7th. The day has been established by Litworld to promote Global Literacy for all ages. World Read Aloud Day was established by LitWorld in March 2010 to advocate for literacy as a basic human right. World Read Aloud Day seeks to motivate children, teens, and adults across the globe to celebrate the power of words and reading, especially sharing your ability to read with that of another person. According to LitWorld, “by raising our voices together on this day, we show the world’s children that we support their future: that they have the right to read, to write, and to share their words to change the world.”
LitWorld’s mission is to use the power of story to cultivate literacy skills in the world’s most vulnerable children through education, advocacy and innovation. LitWorld creates resilience-building reading and writing experiences to connect and fortify communities. For World Read Aloud Day, LitWorld teamed up with Gray Line New York to help promote global literacy at a unique advocacy event. The event was hosted at New York City’s, Books of Wonder, and had book readings from children on the top of a Gray Line New York double-decker bus. The special event featured a number of readings for children and young adults by famous names in the literary world, book signings and creative workshops.
By using double-decker buses, LitWorld seeks to inspire creativity and the promotion of literacy by presenting reading outside its usual forum. While reading a book on a bus may not ensure every child can read today, it does bring attention to the plight of global literacy. The harsh reality is that for many, reading is a privilege. Children must be given the right to read and access to books regardless of where they are located; be it a refugee camp, rural school, or urban library, books are essential to childhood.
Though some progress has been made, we are a long way from seeing that all children have fair and equal access to adequate education across the globe. Therefore education must be at the forefront of any relief, aid or community development program. Additionally, we must seek to educate communities on the importance of education, including access to adequate primary and secondary education for all children. Ensuring all children receive a basic education not only guarantees them a better future, but increases the quality of life for the whole community. Education is an essential element in achieving peace and international cooperation, and to ending poverty and conflict.
Take this opportunity and read to a child today and encourage them to read alone and to other children. Share your books with those in need; we should value books more than gold, for they will buy the future.
