750 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ARE ILLITERATE

People who cannot read or write experience difficulties with simple everyday tasks such as reading the label of a medicine bottle, filling in a job application or understanding a traffic sign. When we help someone to acquire literacy skills, we are empowering them to access to better opportunities in life to break the poverty cycle.

THE IMPACT OF ILLITERACY

• Poor health outcomes
• Welfare dependency
• Gender inequality
• Lack of social cohesion
• Unemployment
• Increased criminal activities

LITERACY IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE

Research confirms that a child’s early years brain development shapes the adults they become, the success they achieve and the contributions they make to the economy and society.

Enhancing literacy levels is essential to the economic development and to the well-being of communities worldwide. Literacy is key to break the cycle of poverty; it leads us to a stronger and healthier community with a more talented workforce.

This petition is on behalf of and a collective voice of 4500+ World Literacy Ambassadors who are located in over 100 countries and are passionate about changing illiteracy rates.

We call on world leaders, educational organizations, and global philanthropists to take immediate action to help us improve foundational literacy skills for children who lack access to books and quality education.

Every child deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive!