HAPPY 43rd INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

Dear Friends,

Today, September 8 is the International Literacy Day. The 43rd to be celebrated since it was initiated by UNESCO in 1965. Its aim is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies. According to UNESCO, Some 776 million adults lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 75 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out. After this distressing statistics shouldn’t we count ourselves lucky to be among the privileged few that have acquired this fantastic skill? Back in secondary school, literature my best subject and oh, how I used to look forward to Mr. Hardy’s class. Mr. Hardy will come into class and give the students who were not ‘offering’ literature, popularly called the ‘illiterates’ one second to ‘disappear from view’ or else ‘face the hard consequences’. Mr. Hardy’s presence alone was enough to get my ‘illiterate’ classmates scampering for the nearest exit, be it a window or a door, at the risk receiving a hard knock on the head. Their offence being the ‘darkness’ refusing to leave when the ‘light’ came in!

Back then we would read volumes and volumes of the written word, yet we never seemed to get enough of it. As I was reminiscing this morning on the International Literacy day, I had to ask myself questions like ‘what happened to that passion for reading? When was the last time I read a book from cover to cover? How many women would have welcomed the opportunity I got, which I have been taking for granted? The last question that jolted me up from bed was ‘IF I CAN READ AND DON’T READ THEN WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND PEOPLE WHO CANNOT READ?

Literacy goes beyond just the ability to read and write. Reports have clearly shown a connection between illiteracy and countries in severe poverty, and between illiteracy and prejudice against women. There is something you can do to make a difference in the life of a child today and you really do not have to invest millions. Something as little as helping buy a child’s school uniform or books once in a while will go a long way. Using the literacy skills you have acquired will also help. Remember, if you don’t use it, you will lose it.

I had been informed that once upon a time at AWDF there was this club called a Book Club which is now comatose. As a tribute to the ILD perhaps we should revive it. Good thing the resource centre is in the process of restocking. Last week we added 26 volumes to what we already have and more are coming soon from CODESRIA. I would like to propose that we use the staff skills building meeting in October to re-activate the Club. Your thoughts are much appreciated.

Roselynn Musa