We are all linked to each other, with similar hopes and dreams for ourselves and our families—no matter where we live in the world.
That was one of the many things I learned working on the website and social media for nine years at Rotary International, an organization with 1.2 million members worldwide, many of whom were involved in humanitarian projects.
One of the things we wrote about at Rotary was the impact of illiteracy on entire families.
Worldwide, 17 percent of the adult population is illiterate.
It’s little wonder why the global humanitarian community ranked education as one of its goals. Supporting education was one of Rotary’s goals. Similarly, a quality education is also one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Learning to read is the key to new worlds and hope.
Literacy enables the other development goals to happen, such as the top goal of ending poverty. Literacy opens doors to so many possibilities for an improved life.
In particular, according to the UN, “Girls’ education prevents an intergenerational transmission of poverty by breaking the cycle of early marriage and childbearing and health and other risks associated with these events.”
Without literacy, you lack choices—no matter where you are in the world. Even in DuPage County, more than 100,000 struggle with reading, writing and speaking English.
On a local level, literacy can mean finding a better job, navigating the healthcare system and communicating with a child’s teacher. On a global level, literacy can help end extreme poverty. Simply, learning to read and being educated is the path to a better life for one person and often for an entire family.
It’s true in India. It’s true in Ecuador, and it’s true in DuPage County.
There is power in words, especially for those who know how to read and write them. Learn how you can donate and make a difference in DuPage County.