International Literacy Day

“We all know it’s never one person- it’s each of us doing our part.”  Ruth Colvin

If you know how to read and write, it’s easy to take literacy skills for granted, but for many people, it’s a privilege. In fact, at least 750 million people (age 15 or older) around the world are unable to read and write. This includes 32 million adults in the US.  

“Why doesn’t somebody do something?”

That’s the question that Ruth Colvin asked. At first she started “doing something” with the other ladies in her church group. That led to creating Literacy Volunteers for America, which then led to ProLiteracy Worldwide. She found that raising literacy not only improves the health and well being of the individual, but the well being of the entire community. 

Here are ways to encourage literacy at home and in the classroom:

https://www.gettingsmart.com/2017/11/national-family-literacy-day/

Here are ways to build literacy awareness in your community:

https://proliteracy.org/Blogs/Article/268/11-Activities-to-Kick-start-AEFL-Week-and-Raise-Awareness#

Of course, you can always support your local libraries and bookstores. Borrow, purchase, share, read to yourself, read to another, write and realize the value of literacy!