This fall was my first time ever not going back to school in September. For the first time in my life, I can no longer use the word student to describe myself. This is a surreal feeling, but it also made me realize how important education and literacy are to be personally. I would not be who I am today had it not been for the educational opportunities I was able to have throughout my life. I realize many people around the world, especially girls, are not given remotely the same opportunities to get an education as I have. This blog wouldn't exist and I wouldn't have me deep love for reading if I were illiterate. But also, I would struggle to read medication labels and job applications. These are things most people in Canada do not even have to think twice about.
While it is nice to get a break from school, especially since my entire master's degree was online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I did not want to stop learning and growing during this transition to a 9-5 'traditional job'. As a result, I joined a few organizations with missions and goals that are close to my heart so I could continue working on causes that matter to me. One such organization is the World Literacy Foundation (WLF), where I have been volunteering in the WLF Ambassador program since May. This wonderful program offered me a chance to learn more about education and literacy around the world while also allowing me to further develop my leadership and advocacy skills.
As someone who loves reading, literacy is very important to me. I simply could not imagine my life without literacy, yet illiteracy remains a very real problem in many parts of the world. The WLF is on a mission to eradicate illiteracy by 2040, regardless of geographic location, so every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential. This is a noble and just goal, which is why I am an enthusiastic advocate for the WLF and why I am dedicating an entire blog post to the organization.
Currently, 1 in 5 people in the world cannot read or write and 3 out of 4 of these people are women. Moreover, illiteracy stems from poverty and underdevelopment. The highest illiteracy rates in the world are in Asia. These statistics are startling and honestly, I didn't know them before I became a WLF ambassador. Everyone deserves to learn how to read and write and bringing literacy to the developing world will help lift people out of poverty and stimulate lifelong learning. Eradicating illiteracy will ultimately make the world a more just place, which is something we should all aspire to.
Donate TODAY
If you are able, I encourage you to make a donation to the World Literacy Foundation. Your donations directly contribute to ending illiteracy by 2040.
https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/donate/
How will you help fight for global literacy?
Comments
Post a Comment