As we celebrate the Rotary theme of Literacy and World Literacy Day in September, let’s dwell on the role of literacy in our lives and the lives of those who depend on us or touch our lives every day.
Everyone knows that the trajectory of literacy, basic education, and higher education enables us to lead productive, meaningful, happy, and lucrative lives. Literacy is one of the most vital fundamental human rights, which opens up the doors of opportunity for all-around growth and betterment in all spheres of life, including the pursuit of a productive career, mental and physical health, and the well-being of our families.
As per the UNESCO website {https://www.unesco.org/en/days/literacy}, “Literacy is a foundation for people to acquire broader knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, and behaviors to foster a culture of lasting peace based on respect for equality and non-discrimination, the rule of law, solidarity, justice, diversity, tolerance, and harmonious relations with oneself, other people, and the planet.” The theme for this year’s UNESCO International Literacy Day celebration, first celebrated by UNESCO on September 8 in 1967, is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.” As per this website, “There is a pressing need to harness the transformative potential of literacy for promoting mutual understanding, social cohesion, and peace. In today’s world, in which multilingualism is a common practice for many … such an approach can help promote mutual understanding and respect, while solidifying communal identities and collective histories.”
Rotary International (R.I.) has consistently reiterated and acted upon the mission of literacy and education as a vital tool that can empower under-served communities in all seven areas of focus. The fact that literacy is the single most powerful medium for the Girls’ Empowerment movement can never be an overstatement. R.I. has supported a host of programs around the world that have alleviated the level of illiteracy in different countries by providing the resources and infrastructure needed for literacy and basic education. If we take a look at the global statistics of literacy rates, we will know that 90% of all males and 82.7 % of all females above the age of 15 are literate. As per [https://worldpopulationreview.com/], developed nations are cited as having an average of 96% adult literacy rate, while the least developed nations that are in the African continent and Afghanistan, manage an average of 65% literacy rates. In the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, 24 million learners might never have returned to formal education, including 11 million women and girls. In 2022, at least one of the 7 adults aged 15 and above (765 million) lacked basic literacy skills. Millions of children in underserved communities around the world are struggling to acquire minimum levels of proficiency in reading, writing, and numeracy. Around 250 million children of 6-18 years of age are still out of school {https://www.unesco.org/en/literacy}.
Since its inception in 2011, the Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group (BELRAG) has supported programs that alleviate illiteracy, enhance literacy teaching and learning, and provide the materials and equipment needed for literacy education. The primary goal of BELRAG is to increase the global awareness of the severity of illiteracy, assist Rotary and Rotaract clubs for increasing their participation in projects that alleviate illiteracy, and establish effective partnerships for promoting the literacy programs that intersect with other areas of focus. As per the BELRAG website {https://belrag.org/}, some of the strategies that BELRAG uses to achieve its goals is to publicize the extent and consequences of illiteracy in terms of human experience and welfare through its website, newsletters, and webinars; involve Rotary clubs and their partners to promote the mission of BELRAG; develop support systems for BELRAG activities; and develop productive relationships with non-Rotary organizations and agencies, like the International Reading Association. Some of the partners of BELRAG include A Global Voice for Autism, mEducation Alliance, Rotary India Literacy Mission, Save the Children, and Speaking Books.
Each year, BELRAG awards four awards of $500 each for BEL projects from around the world. Rotary clubs are encouraged to apply at:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf9NeXeSp9Ed_NKdmvbsGb3kjEMBaZup1HP0UCl_6DkRkWGOw/viewform.
In celebration of the Rotary International theme of Literacy and Basic Education month this year, BELRAG will be organizing daily webinars of 20 minutes each in September for the showcasing of BELRAG projects being done by Rotary and Rotaract clubs. Here is the registration link {https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKnNhnnMiI4l-MQWIVDXVyA_JrrpsIlicCQKch_xcM2S6pyg/viewform}.
In conclusion, literacy can play a transformative role in creating awareness of the need to use it as an antidote to poverty, gender and racial disparities, domestic and sexual violence, sexual trafficking, economic disempowerment, class conflicts, and a variety of health crises prevalent in different parts of the world. As a newly appointed member of the Board of Directors of BELRAG, the Girls’ Education Chair of BELRAG, and a BELRAG Ambassador for D6910, it’s my honor to encourage clubs in my home district to celebrate the “Magic of Rotary” by organizing both the International Day of Peace and World Literacy Day events in September. District Governor (2024-25) Bobby Hildreth calls upon our Rotary and Rotaract clubs to plan and implement projects that use the power of literacy and basic education as a tool for uplifting and empowering our communities. To share the vision of R.I. President (2024-25) Stephanie Urchick on the pivotal role of education and literacy as one of the areas of focus in Rotary International, in her own words {https://rotary5910.org/stories/stephanie-a.-urchick-ri-president-message}, “But we all know that our work isn’t finished yet. It can’t be, as long as … education is still treated as a privilege rather than a right…” Amen.