"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."
~Dr. Seuss

"Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility. If our world is to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century we must harness the energy and creativity of all our citizens."
~President Clinton on International Literacy Day, September 8th 1994

The United Nations has declared 2003-2012 the "Literacy Decade". The goal of the Literacy Decade is to extend the use of literacy to those millions of people who cannot read or write.

Education, with literacy as its main tool, was recognized as a human right more than 50 years ago. Yet every day, about 120 million children are denied access to education [source] and more than 800 million adults remain illiterate. [source]

This means that globally, about one in eight adults lack the required education to understand simple statements related to everyday life. These adults cannot sign their names, read or write a sentence describing their daily activities or engage in employment requiring literacy to function effectively.

Without basic literacy skills, these adults are unable to access the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for people to survive, to improve their quality of life and to continue learning.

We know the importance that education and literacy has played in our own lives. Imagine being denied your right to learn, to read and to write, and how difficult your life might be as a result. Too many children and adults face this unnecessary challenge every day.

Still, there is hope. If all young children were to receive a good quality basic education lasting for a minimum of four years, the problem of illiteracy would be resolved in the span of a single generation.

Universal literacy is achievable. According to The World Watch Institute, the annual expenditure on perfume is $15 billion while achieving universal literacy would only need an annual investment of $5 billion. This shows that making education accessible to all is not a matter of cost; it is a matter of priority.

It is critical that every girl and boy has access to basic education and literacy. Both governments and individuals have a role to play in making this a reality.

You can help! By supporting the Adopt a Village campaign, you are giving children in developing countries the chance to learn to read and write. Whether you build a school, dig a well or buy milking animals, you are enabling impoverished children to attend school and to have a brighter future. Get involved today—and bring your friends!