International Literacy Day
International Literacy Day in on Friday, September 8th. What is International Literacy Day you might ask? Consider these quotes:
Books were my pass to personal freedom. – Oprah Winfrey
A book is the only place in which you can examine a fragile thought without breaking it, or explore an explosive idea without fear it will go off in your face. – Edward P. Morgan
A book is a dream that you hold in your hand. – Neil Gaiman
A book is a device to ignite the imagination. – Alan Bennett
No matter how busy you may think you are, you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance. – Confucius
Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body. – Joseph Addison
Reading takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere. – Hazel Rochman
For each of those and for us, books unite us, make us bigger, pull us forward, out of ourselves and into something larger. Maybe into something we can’t even define for ourselves yet. And now we are doing so in multiple ways on various devices.
But first we must learn to read.
That’s where the International Literacy Day comes in.
From the International Literacy Day Website:
International Literacy Day History
International Literacy Day serves to recognize the importance of literacy and acknowledge the need to create a globally literate community. Literacy refers to a person’s ability to read or write, an ability that connects and empowers people, allowing them to communicate and interact with the world, and one that the United Nations considers to be a basic human right. Today, approximately 16% of the world’s population, two-thirds of which is female, is unable to read or write at a basic level in their native languages. Illiteracy in nearly all parts of the world has been linked to socio-economic issues like poverty and demographic factors such as gender.
In an effort to combat illiteracy, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created International Literacy Day in 2000. During the 2015 campaign, themed Literacy and Sustainable Societies, UNESCO stressed the importance of literacy as the most powerful accelerator of sustainable development
and pledged that by 2030, the organization will ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy
. This international holiday is observed annually on September 8th.
This year the theme is Literacy in a Digital World exploring what skills people need to live in an increasingly digital oriented world. Here at STRW we have talked about the increase in eBooks. That’s also true at the educational level where computers and computer programs are rapidly replacing traditional methods normally associated with schooling, right down to eTextbooks.
Here is another paragraph that struck me from the International Literacy Day website:
Just as knowledge, skills and competencies evolve in the digital world, so does what it means to be literate. In order to close the literacy skills gap and reduce inequalities, this year’s International Literacy Day will highlight the challenges and opportunities in promoting literacy in the digital world, a world where, despite progress, at least 750 million adults and 264 million out-of-school children still lack basic literacy skills.
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Contact information
- Contact us for more information on the global event: literacy@unesco.org(link sends e-mail)
- Inform us about your local and regional ILD 2017 celebrations: ild-celebrations@unesco.org(link sends e-mail)
The more that you read, the more things that you will know, the more that you learn, the more places that you’ll go
– Dr. Seuss
International Literacy Day – References and Related Sites
- UNESCO: Literacy Day 2015
- UNESCO: Literacy Stats
- www.literacyworldwide.org
- UNESCO eAtlas of Literacy
So what can we do to help? There are many shelters, especially LGBTQIA Youth shelters, that maybe in need of books, even Kindles with suitable YA stories already loaded into them, that you can donate. Donate books to local shelters for domestic violence. They often take in families with younger children that might need books to read. Check first with the shelters before donating. Need addresses of LGBTQ Shelters to contact?
Start with
Ali Forney Center – NYC NY
Lost-n-Found Youth: Home (Atlanta GA USA)
Lost–n–Found Youth is an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization whose … More than 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ and this disparity in the homeless youth population continues to grow. …. 2585 Chantilly Drive, Atlanta, GA 30324
Albert Kennedy Trust – Helping young LGBT people – Manchester UK
The Albert Kennedy Trust support lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans homeless young people in crisis. Every day … We have offices in both London and Manchester.
International Literacy Day Giveaway
How do you think we can make a difference these days in promoting literacy? Here at home and abroad? Also, tell us what how reading and books has changed your life? What does it mean to you that you can pick up a book, sink down into other lives and worlds? Two winners will win a $10 gift card. Leave your comment along with your email address. Contest ends on Sunday, September 9th. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Sunday, September 3:
- An Alisa Series Review: Only You Series by JS Finley
- International Literacy Day
- This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Monday, September 4:
- BLITZ A Matter of Courage by J.C. Long
- Review Tour – Ann Gallagher’s Having Her Back
- RIPTIDE TOUR Foxglove Copse (Porthkennack #5) by Alex Beecroft
- A MelanieM Review: Foxglove Copse (Porthkennack #5) by Alex Beecroft
- A Stella Release Day Review: The Hike by John Inman
- An Alisa Review: Eye Candy (Candy Men #2) by Amanda Young
- A Stella Review : Having Her Back by Ann Gallagher
Tuesday, September 5:
- Dreamspinner Promo j. leigh bailey on Stalking Buffalo Bill + Giveaway
- RELEASE BLITZ Leaning Into Always by Lane Hayes
- Review Tour – Hard Time (Responsible Adult #2) by C.F. White
- A Kai Review: Hard Time (Responsible Adult #2) by C.F. White
- A VVivacious Review: The Highlander (Order Series #2) by Kasia Bacon
- An Ali Review: A Matter of Courage by JC Long
- An Alisa Review: Talk Bunny To Me (Hoppity Shifter #2) by A.R. Barley
Wednesday, September 6:
- 3 day release Blitz for Sunder by Lexi Ander
- Blog Tour For Elin Gregory’s The Bones of Our Fathers
- A Melanie Release Day Review: Earning His Trust by Alicia Nordwell
- A Lila Review: The Curse (Witches of Salem #1) by T.S. McKinney
- An Alisa Review: Broken Pieces by Ruby MacIntyre
Thursday, September 7:
- Release Blitz & Review Tour for Garrett Leigh’s Circle (Roads #3)
- Release Blitz: Hard Time by CF White
- Victoria Sue on her new release The Alpha Heir + Giveaway
- A Kai Review: Facing West (Forever Wilde #1) by Lucy Lennox
- An Ali Review: Making It (Ringside Romance #3) by Christine d’Abo
- A Lila Audiobook Review: Tart and Sweet (Candy Man #4) by Amy Lane and Narrator: Philip Alces
- An Ali Review: Circle (Roads #3) by Garrett Leigh
Friday, September 8 (International Literacy Day):
- TOUR The Dragon’s Devotion by Antonia Aquilante
- Release Blitz : Con Riley’s Be My Best Man
- RIPTIDE TOUR & Giveaway: Her Hometown Girl by Lorelie Brown
- The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic by F.T. Lukens YA Tour
- A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Friendly Fire by Cari Z and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)
- A Lila Review: The Dragon’s Devotion (Chronicles of Tournai Book 5) by Antonia Aquilante
- A MelanieM Review: Broken Records (Spotlight #1) by Lilah Suzanne
Saturday, September 9:
- Living Out Loud by Nyrae Dawn & Christina Lee Release Day Blitz and Review
- Cover reveal *September 8th* His Dark Reflection by Heloise West
- A MelanieM Review: Sūnder (Darksoul #1) by Lexi Ander
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 
Well, I live in Indonesia, where the level of people reading is pretty low. It’s a sad situation really. We don’t have a very established libraries — I always feel jealous when I see one abroad. I guess my way of promoting literacy or books usually by speaking about it on social media. Or donate books when I can — cannot exactly donate my MM romance collection, different culture and all. Because books definitely change my life. I actually discovered about my asexuality by reading books!
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Oh forgot my email address: amie_07(at)yahoo(dot)com
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I think it’s important to get children active in reading early in life. Here in the states it’s easier to do but I feel promotion should be upped so communities know when a event or program is occurring. As for abroad I suppose the same can be done. Also if we had more volunteer programs not just missionary organizations go abroad and/or raising money for equipment and videos may even help some communities.
As for me I’ve always read. My sister use to force me to do it, I wasn’t allowed to watch tv when I wanted to. Instead I would be forced to sit down and read or write. It was my main source of entertainment. It fed my imagination, served as an escape and stress reliever.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
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I think the biggest thing we can do to promote literacy is to read to kids. We read to our kids starting when they were infants and they are both avid readers now. Supporting library programs, school programs etc. where books are read aloud. We also have the opportunity to donate books to our school and to a program for underfunded schools via Scholastic Books.
I’ve read a lot ever since I was young. Books open up new worlds to me and also teach me about people and cultures I might never know otherwise.
jen(dot)f(at)mac(dot)com
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Thanks so much for your attention to literacy. It is a necessary part of education, which I believe so strongly in. Being able to read really does free a person. That was true for me, and I’ve seen it in others. A whole new world opens up. Then comes the critical thinking skills to make sense of it all, the decision making skills to do the right things with it, and all in the context of a well grounded value system.
Reading is the first step, it opens the door that would otherwise be closed. But most times people cannot do it alone. I try to do my part by volunteer tutoring GED students at the LGBTQ center here. The people’s growth is amazing and I’m so proud of how they become solid citizens of the world.
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I got so wrapped up in my comment, I forgot my contact info 🙂 :
TheWrote [at] aol [dot] com
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