September is a time when most students are heading back to school to further their knowledge and education. In the Rotary World, September is Literacy Month.
September 8th was proclaimed as International Literacy Day by the UNESCO’s General Conference in 1966. Since then literacy celebrations have taken place annually around the world to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights and to work towards a more literate and sustainable society.
Literacy ‘skills’ broadly includes knowledge and competencies required for employment, careers and livelihoods, particularly technical and vocational skills, along with transferable skills and digital skills. Focusing on youth and adults within the lifelong learning framework, the effective links between literacy and skills can be explored.
The month of August ends with 18 completed club visits. Many of your clubs have literacy projects in place: Little Free Libraries, Books for Babes, 4 Way Essay Contest, Reading Programs, Books and School Supplies and Dictionary Projects.
International Literacy Day 2018 provides renewed impetus for Rotary Clubs to make meaningful connections between literacy and technical and vocational education and training through literacy projects and programs.
What are your club’s on going literacy projects? What new projects can you initiate? Past Literacy Rotarian Action Group (LitRAG) newsletters offer many ideas for literacy projects (Feb 2018, p3). Visit www.litrag.org or email info@litrag.org
Let's get our Ask in Gear with possibility thinking.
Look for the Opportunities not the Obstacles. Focus on the How to create lasting change in your community and around the globe. Be the Inspiration.