Collaboration with MSMF in India!

Want to be a part of the Change?

Want to be a part of  the Change? Wondering How to Get Involved?

If you are an individual who shares our united vision you can get involved by creating a local chapter of United4Literacy. A little of your time could make a lasting impact on the lives of countless children in your area!

Check out how you can open a local chapter in your community:

1. In your respective region, you can open a local chapter of united4literacy. This local chapter will be a “ground based” organization which will operate semi-independently to promote and spread literacy in any way possible. This local chapter can help to educate minority or illiterate children and then report their success stories back to us!
2. A possible way to educate children in this ground based approach is to gather a group of volunteers who are willing to donate only their time to help educate children. There are many benefits to donating time in such a way. The volunteer will gain experience working with children, volunteer work can be put on a resume, and volunteer work is essential to the applications for many universities and scholarships (ex. North American Universities, Rhodes Scholarships, etc…). These volunteers may commit time based on their schedule as long as it is consistent, for example one hour a week.
3. Choose any facility you feel appropriate. Possible solutions to the facility are:

• A school after school hours are over.
• A community centre
• A church, temple or other such institutions
• A home

As long as the facility is safe, it is up to you where you best feel studies can be conducted.

• Let the volunteers commit their time. Volunteers must stay at least 3 months to be formally acknowledged by us. Formal acknowledgement comes in form of a certificate of volunteer work provided by United4Literacy whenever they wish after a period of 3 months of volunteering. We will encourage volunteers to stay as long as they can since time volunteered will be written on the certificate.
• If you are interested in our plan, I would like to hear back from you and we can create a united4literacy chapter in your region with you as the leader! After a period of one year we plan to provide funds for books and supplies for the children. Until then there are many online resources available to be printed and I will specifically give them to you upon your response should be interested in our plan.
• Upon your response we can also provide promotional materials and letters to help in recruitment of volunteers and for facility. However, I leave it up to you to obtain facility and directly recruit volunteers.
• Please note: United4Literacy Canada reserves all rights. Local chapters will operate semi-independently, whereby they will still be liable to respond to me on matters of facility, finance, volunteers and work being done.

Would you like to get involved or have any questions? Please contact us!

Restructuring our organization

Hello Friends,

After three successful years of running United4Literacy and spreading the message to thousands we would like to thank our over 1700 followers in over 23 countries for their continued support and inspiration. With increasing successes and goals in sight, we have gained more responsibilities. We are currently in the process of restructuring our organization to share these responsibilities with you. If you are a broad minded, passionate, driven individuals who supports our mission we request you to join us in our mission to spread literacy globally.

To get involved with United4Literacy you can become part of our cloud based or ground based mission. Our cloud based mission promotes literacy worldwide through our web initiatives. To become involved with this, just like us on Facebook or follow our blog! Spread our message of the importance of education through social media or join our Facebook group! Become our cloud based members and help us bring our efforts to new heights!

We also have a ground based mission which involves fundraising, awareness campaigns and volunteering to help educate children. If you would like to get involved with this mission or take initiative in your own community contact us through out website or Facebook!

Also, as part of our global vision in our ground based mission we have created an opportunity for members of our group to open a local chapter of United4Literacy in their home country. If you are interested in working with us to advance our goal of spreading the light of literacy please contact us by following the link:http://www.united4literacy.org/contact-us-2/!

Kindest Regards,
Nitish Bhatt
Founder, United4Literacy

Technology: The Gift of Reading

It is often asked if the technological revolution our society has experienced in recent decades has had a positive or negative impact overall on society. I believe that both answers to this question are correct. Technology by itself cannot have an impact on society. Rather the means by which it is used by humans is what leaves an impact. Several; uses of technology have been negative, sometimes even devastating. However, once in a while we stumble upon a use of technology that makes us rethink what is possible. The truth is that is technology is used to its full potential in the right way, then is can help make the impossible possible. One such use of technology relates to our cause: Literacy. In the world of education technology has already done so much and holds the potential to do much more. So, let’s take a look at one use of technology in Ghana where it has broken every barrier to help educate children and make them empowered individuals who will undoubtedly use their newfound skills to contribute to the world.

The news was reported in the British newspaper: “The Guardian” (for courtesy reference of article see below). A school called Suhum Primary School in Ghana was a normal school in Ghana that like others faced lack of literacy due to lack of reading materials and books for children. Now due to the effrots of a literacy charity called WorldReader children at the school are able to read their favourite books on a Kindle. Yes! The e reader is able to allow them access of over 140 titles including textbooks and mainly storybooks. WorldReader provides over 3600 students with kindles in 10 schools located in Ghana. The initiative that has been taken by this charity has helped spread literacy among the students as reported by both the students and the teachers. Such vast access to reading materials allows children noyt not only learn about facts but also develop their curiosity and creativity from stories. Worldreader reports that about 60% of all the content that is accessed by these Kindles is local content to Ghana. This helps the children learn about themselves and their own country and heritage which is an essential part of their identity. So the Kindle initiative has undoubtable made the lives of those 3600 students better. It has promoted literacy, allowed them to explore the world and learn about themselves.  By providing them a more whole education we can ensure that they will achieve all their goals and soar to any heights their imagination takes them to. That’s the importance of literacy…

So, I think that the efforts of Worldreader are truly worth huge appreciation from everyone worldwide. They have helped further the vision shared by us all: to help spread literacy and empower the forgotten. This initiative truly kindled the motto of Each One Teach One!

To read the full Guardian article please visit: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/kindle-ghana-reading-revolution-worldreader-guardian-christmas-appeal

Courtesy Reference: Afua Hirsch (author of Guardian article), The Guardian Newspaper