International Literacy Day

2-3 minutes

Have you heard of International Literacy Day? It falls on September 8th each year, and it’s a day dedicated to recognize the importance of reading.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated International Literacy Day to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies. International Literacy Day has been celebrated worldwide since 1967.

Why is it so important? Because reading is about more than good books. Literacy opens doors and opportunities. 

Literacy as Human Right 📖✌

UNESCO recognizes literacy– the ability to read– as a fundamental human right. Reading enables people to acquire knowledge,  develop skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. Reading is both a window into the unique aspects of our individual cultures and a gateway into recognizing the broader human experience that unites us all.

In fact, the theme for this year’s International Literacy Day is Promoting Multilingual Understanding: Literacy for Understanding and Peace.

Multilingualism 🗣️🗣️

Notice the focus on multilingualism.  Speaking, and better yet, reading, in more than one language is not just good for promoting cross-cultural understanding, which is an estimable goal Dual language is beneficial to the individual. Research demonstrates that people who are multilingual and multiliterate have distinct advantages over their monolingual counterparts including improved literacy in both languages,  broader access to career opportunities, enhanced executive functioning, and delayed cognitive decline.

At 311 Literacy, our mission is to transform lives through reading and broaden children’s horizons with bilingual learning opportunities. We believe that reading is more than just a skill—it’s a gateway to empowerment and endless possibilities

We aim to provide teachers, learners, and families with the tools to enrich children’s lives through the love of reading. 

Globally, 763 million adults lack basic literacy skills, and according to the World Literacy Foundation, since the COVID-19 pandemic, 1.6 billion children and adolescents lack foundational literacy skills.  The numbers are staggering.

But you can help by starting in your own household and community, and International Literacy Day, this Sunday, September 8th, is the right time to begin.

The Great Reading Tournament 📚

If you are reading this, you possess the tools to help your child develop a lifelong love of reading. Share this link to The Great Reading Tournament with your children’s teachers. 

Then, read with your children. Read aloud in your heritage language and ask questions while you read to encourage your children to think deeply about the stories. Have your children read aloud to you, and pause to consider the lessons the stories impart, regardless of the language in which they are told. Are they familiar to you? Do they provide insight into another culture? What lessons can you take forward and how will these help you in the future?

If you can teach your children this skill – to consider the stories they read as portals to understanding – you will have provided them with a tool for literacy and for life.

Happy reading! 💫