Almost 800 million people can’t read this
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.
September 8 is International Literacy Day, which was first proclaimed by UNESCO in 1965 and celebrated in 1966 as a way to highlight the importance of literacy in the lives of individuals, communities and nations. Use this day to encourage reading and the habits of a good reader in your homes, schools and communities. Check and see if your local school or library is doing something that you can participate in. If not encourage them to do so!
Click here to learn about the state of literacy internationally, go to UNESCO's site on Literacy.
Action Alerts to Share with your Community
Urge your Representative to support the Global Partnership for Education
From RESULTS--The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) is the only multilateral global partnership focused on ensuring all children have access to a quality education. Last year, the United States made its first ever pledge of $20 million to the GPE. While this contribution is a great start, it is just 2.5 percent of total U.S. funding for global basic education. The U.S. must do more in 2013. The 2013 appropriations process is at a standstill in Congress, but both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees included $800 million for basic education in their 2013 appropriations bills - and how much of that will go to the GPE is left entirely up to the Administration. Now is the time to urge the Administration to show support for the GPE. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) has initiated a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking for $125 million for the GPE in 2013.
Participate in the Day of the Girl Proclamation Project
School Girls Unite, in anticipation of the first ever International Day of the Girl, has launched a 10.11.12 Proclamation Project. They are urging people around the nation to contact their local elected officials to proclaim 10.11.12 Day of the Girl locally to highlight the interconnectedness of the issues that face girls worldwide. Click here for information on how to get a Proclamation campaign started in your community.
Action Alerts are produced and distributed by the Global Campaign for Education-US, a coalition organization dedicated to ensuring quality education for all children. The next issue will focus on more activities for International Literacy Day and launch the GCE-US blog!
