What would your life be – What would your life be – What would your life be – What would your life be – What would your life be
Imagine you had no education and could not read or write. What would your life be like?
Most people take literacy skills for granted but there are over 750 million illiterate people that cannot read a single word and more than 2 billion individuals who struggle to read and write a sentence.
These people experience difficulties in simple everyday tasks such as reading the newspaper, understanding a traffic sign, or filling in a simple job application. However, the harsh consequences of illiteracy go beyond. Being illiterate marginalises individuals from active participation and life opportunities in their community.
Global initiatives to reduce illiteracy
In an attempt to reduce children’s illiteracy rates worldwide, the World Literacy Foundation (WLF) was created in 2003. For the last 17 years, the WLF team has been working day by day to ensure every child regardless of their socio-economic condition has the opportunity to acquire literacy skills to succeed and school and beyond.
The WLF work includes literacy programs, learning resources distribution and implementation of EdTech solutions in the most disadvantaged communities in the United Kingdom, Australia, Africa, South America, and the United States. They are also a global voice for literacy, through social media, podcasts, blogging, and events, they spread awareness, educate, and mobilize people to action against illiteracy.
What you can do
The work of organisations like the World Literacy Foundation would not be possible without the support and contribution of volunteers, donors, and partners such as STEP, a global professional body, comprising lawyers, accountants, trustees and other practitioners that help families plan for their futures.
This year, STEP has nominated the WLF as their charity partner for their major event ‘ the STEP Private Client Awards. All funds raised from this initiative will support the literacy projects across the world impacting the lives of thousands of vulnerable children who are at the highest risk of a lifetime of illiteracy.
If you could read this note, then count yourself lucky! At some point, you learned how to read and write, then you have the power to take action, raise your voice and help those who cannot do so. To discover different ways to get involved in the battle against illiteracy, I invite you to explore the volunteer programs and literacy campaigns here www.worldliteracyfoundation.org
Written by: Paula Rico
World Literacy Foundation
