March 2008 - Celebrate Literacy Month
The month of March in the Rotary calendar is designated as Rotary Literacy Month. It highlights literacy and education issues around the world and is an excellent opportunity for Rotary clubs and districts to raise awareness about literacy, launch new literacy initiatives and projects, and recognize literacy accomplishments from the past year. Rotarians everywhere are encouraged to participate in Rotary Literacy Month by engaging in service or activities that specifically address literacy and education issues either in their communities or abroad.
Literacy is the foundation for virtually all forms of education and a crucial component of effective social and economic participation, human development, and poverty reduction. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) nearly 800 million people over the age of 15 lack even basic reading and writing skills worldwide. In addition, there are roughly 137 million school age children who are illiterate around the world. Sadly, over 64% of all illiterate people in the world today are women.
The benefits of literacy to society are undisputed. The Education for All Global Monitoring Report published in 2006 by UNESCO argues that literate populations are less likely to experience civil strife and are more likely to develop economically. There is also a direct connection between literacy rates and community health. People who are literate are generally more aware of health concerns in their communities and are therefore better equipped to avoid illness.
Rotary clubs and districts celebrate Rotary Literacy Month in many different ways. Some clubs invite speakers to discuss literacy and education issues that are important to their communities, some clubs plan literacy and education related service activities, and other clubs plan large community campaigns to encourage literacy.
And so, during this month of March, let us raise awareness about literacy and education by inviting local literacy or education experts like teachers, school administrators, government education officers, and university professors, to speak at our club’s meeting about local, regional, or international literacy and education issues. We could facilitate a discussion session at our club’s meeting about literacy and education in our community Lastly, during this Literacy Month, we could also arrange for club members to visit local schools, universities, libraries, and tutoring centers to learn about our community’s literacy and education resources.
The Rotary Club of Kalibo has, through the years, been a great advocate of Literacy through its many programs, including Literacy-Numeracy Program started during the term of PP Berting Nakaya through the present scholarship programs. Let us continue to support the literacy programs of our club and help eliminate illiteracy in our midst!
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