DVV International promotes everyday literacy worldwide
This year, UNESCO's World Literacy Day on 8 September has the motto: "Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies". With this, UNESCO emphasises the crucial role literacy plays in empowering individuals and communities to build peaceful and sustainable societies, especially in times of change and social, economic and environmental challenges.
Globally, lack of basic education and illiteracy remain a serious obstacle to development today. Basic education has been shown to correlate with improved employment opportunities, lower birth rates, reduced maternal and infant mortality, increased environmental awareness, tolerance and social cohesion. Without literacy and basic education for all, sustainable poverty reduction and development will not be possible.
Strengthening literacy and basic education worldwide is therefore one of DVV International's most important fields of action. With non-formal and needs-oriented educational offers at the local level, young people and adults are given access to education and thus to active social and economic participation.
Especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, DVV International supports events around World Literacy Day. In many countries, national conferences are held in cooperation with the respective ministries. In Kampala, Uganda, for example, the national strategy for adult education, whose revision DVV International accompanied in an advisory capacity, is ceremonially presented on 8 September. In Tanzania, the day will be used to celebrate the opening of a new adult education centre in the Kibaha district. But the successes of the work will also be presented and the learners will have their say: In Malawi, a participant in educational programmes in prisons will report on how he was able to set up a hairdressing salon after his imprisonment thanks to his new knowledge. Cultural and sporting activities round off the programme in many countries, including Mozambique. The series of events often extend over several days, as in Mali, where an entire Literacy Week is celebrated from 08 to 14 September, culminating in a closing event at a community education centre in Yélékébougou supported by DVV International.