International Literacy Day

Celebrate International Literacy Day
September 8, 2008

International Literacy Day, observed annually on September 8, focuses attention on worldwide literacy needs. More than 780 million of the world’s adults (nearly two-thirds of whom are women) do not know how to read or write, and between 94 and 115 million children lack access to education.

International celebration

The centerpiece of each year’s international observance of International Literacy Day is the awarding of five UNESCO literacy prizes, which honor outstanding local, regional, or national literacy programs. Literacy projects in China, the United States, Nigeria, Senegal, and the United Republic of Tanzania were the winners of the five prizes in 2007.

UNESCO-IRA literacy prize

The IRA-sponsored UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize (formerly, the International Reading Association Literacy Award), has been presented each year since 1979 by UNESCO on International Literacy Day. The recipient the 2007 $20,000 prize was the Community Education Administration Centre, Longsheng Ethnic Minority Autonomous County, People’s Republic of China. The center serves a large ethnic population with a high illiteracy rate, especially among women. For more than 10 years, the center has conducted a literacy program for women that is coordinated with a program for the eradication of poverty through education and a comprehensive system for rural education. The 2008 winners will be announced in August 2008.

IRA celebrates in Washington, DC

IRA will celebrate International Literacy Day in Washington, DC on Monday, September 8, 2008 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Public Library. Author Sharon Draper, former Teacher of the Year, will be our special guest. Event details will be posted here as they become available.

The theme of this year’s celebration is "Reading Across the Continents," a project uniting Washington, DC and Nigerian students through the sharing of two books: Copper Sun (a penetrating story of the slave trade) by US author Sharon Draper and Purple Hibiscus (a heartfelt story of growing up in Nigeria’s political tulmult) by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This pilot project unites Washington DC’s School Without Walls (SWW) High School students with their counterparts in Abuja, Nigeria. Students and teachers in both countries will share thoughts on their own lives, convictions, and insights. Students will use a variety of tools to communicate, including live feeds, author visits, student/teacher exchanges, blogs, and email. This will be webcast. Watch for details here.

IRA councils: How will you observe the day?

In past years IRA councils and individual members have found a variety of ways to observe International Literacy Day, from organizing themed readings in local schools and libraries to supporting national and international literacy programs. This year, councils are invited to consider contacting their local Rotary clubs to explore ways they can work together in support of literacy. See the list of “Idea Starters” for some interesting possibilities.