Proclaimed by UNESCO in 1966 during its 14th General Conference and first celebrated in 1967, Literacy Day is celebrated globally every year on September 8th to highlight the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human right. This coincides with September’s Basic Education and Literacy Month in Rotary, offering an opportunity to celebrate the ways Rotary members work with communities to improve schools, reduce gender disparities in education, and increase adult literacy. Today’s 60th anniversary global event is being held in Chiapas, Mexico, featuring the UNESCO International Literacy Prizes ceremony.
Quick global illiteracy stats:
- Around 88% for adults aged 15 and older, and roughly 93% for youths aged 18 to 24
- Approximately 739 million adults cannot read or write
- Women account for about two-thirds (nearly 66%) of all illiterate adults globally
- Global adult literacy has risen significantly from about 65% in 1975 to nearly 88% today
Consider making a gift to The Rotary Foundation in honor of International Literacy Day today. Your donation will help communities address educational challenges so that students can focus on the most important thing — learning!