By Litzi Aguilar
Since 1967, International Literacy Day has been a day for those all around the globe to recognize and celebrate the importance of literacy in individuals and societies. This day is also meant to address the obstacles that prevent people from developing literacy skills and contributing to their societies. Despite its popularity in academic settings, it is not just a day when only teachers and students can celebrate. It is meant to be inclusive to everyone from any country, race, background, and culture to uplift and empower.
International Literacy Day (September 8) can be traced back to the World Conference of Ministers of Education held in Tehran, Iran, where leaders worldwide came together to combat illiteracy and promote its education for all as a fundamental human right. It was September 8th that was declared as the official literacy day by UNESCO, or the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Every year, UNESCO has a theme to celebrate, and this year, the theme is “Promoting literacy in the digital era.” This year’s global conference will be held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
In this current age, technology has completely changed our societies. It has changed how we learn and work, both positively and negatively. It has allowed people to access reading and writing to understand and create communities where they can engage with others safely and appropriately. However, the rise of technology also presents issues like misinformation and cybercrime. This presents the opportunity to reflect on what literacy means and how it can be managed in this age of technology to be safer, especially for those who are vulnerable.
There are several ways to celebrate this day, at home and locally in your area!
– You can visit your local library! Sign up for a library card and pick out books to read. You can explore the different types of books and expand your horizons beyond the fiction section! Libraries also often hold special events and reading programs for kids.
– Participate in a challenge! These challenges range from book swapping to dressing up as your favorite character. You can also have the whole family participate in a literacy scavenger hunt to instill positive outlooks on learning how to read and write in the younger and older generations.
– You can also volunteer in programs that tutor students in reading and writing lessons! Check out your local and online programs that offer these learning opportunities and get involved. These programs provide learning styles personalized for every student to improve their reading and writing comprehension and skills. These programs are open to all ages, regardless of one’s literacy levels.
