When the Roatan Bookmobile parks along the seashore at Flowers Bay, a throng of students gather excitedly at the entrance of Thomas McField School in Honduras. Painted with a mural of kids reading and colorful seaside scenes, the bus is a rolling advertisement for the joy of books and the power of education.
Library For All was founded because 250 million children across the developing world are not achieving the basics of literacy and numeracy, even after 4 years at school. We are a NYC-based non-profit [Go read logo] organization that exists to unlock knowledge to the developing world by providing access to a cloud-based digital library. Our mission is to increase educational opportunity for students in developing countries, giving them an opportunity to learn, dream and aspire to lift themselves out of poverty.
Around the world, the number of people who cannot read or write hovers just under 800 million. Two thirds of this population are women and girls. In preparation for the UN International Day of the Girl on October 11th, LitWorld's Stand Up for Girls campaign is in full swing. Our mission is to mobilize girls and boys, men and women to advocate for every girl's right to tell her story to change the world.
School supplies are my thing. There was nothing like going to shop for new school supplies each year. I would pack them in a book bag, toss it on my back and head out to a new school year--to see friends, get new workbooks, find my desk and get settled in. This desk would be my space for the next school year--my space to learn, to work and, yes, probably get into a little trouble (I was a talker, what can I say?). But 57 million children around the world don't have access to this and by extension their right to education. They don't get to ready a book bag, button a school uniform, claim a desk next to a friend, and, yes, even get into a little bit of trouble. They won't have a first day of school this year and for some that first day of school will never appear.
After decades of conflict that have battered the country and its education system, leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have taken a crucial step toward improving education by updating national education standards and the school curriculum.
I believe there is a momentous opportunity now to address the global lack of access to educational materials, using digital technology. The growth of mobile networks across developing countries has boomed in recent years; over the past year alone, mobile telecommunications services in developing nations have grown 78%, and 39% of the developing world now has access to 3G networks.
Now that we are in the 21st century, information is becoming more open, available, and easy to exchange. Even in some of the most remote and disadvantaged places on earth, wireless internet technology is bringing the world to people who may never leave their village. Today more than ever, creating educational resources that are free to access and use can change the face of development, and the world, forever.
Most people remember reading one or two Dr. Seuss books in school as they grew up and many credit Dr. Seuss with sparking their love of reading. International Literacy Day is September 8, 2012 and a perfect day to share how reading opened your eyes to world full of meaning and expression.
Think about your favorite book. Now think about how everything about you might have changed because you never were able to read it--the stop sign on the corner; the instructions on a food carton. Today, almost 800 million adults are illiterate - that is unacceptable.
August 1, 2011
