Facts about illiteracy in Canada...

In this post we will be looking close and deep in to illiteracy facts around the world to start with Canada..

"Four in 10 high school youth have insufficient reading skills. Two in 10 university graduates, five in 10 adults, and six in 10 immigrants also have insufficient literacy skills… While both levels of government are engaged in literacy programs, there is little evidence that it is working. Canada is losing billions because of illiteracy." (Toronto Dominion Report – Literacy Matters, 2007).

Lunchboxes4Literacy 2015

Hello Friends,

We would like to thank everyone for their support for our fundraisers throughout the year. It is because of your support in our community fundraisers such as Lunchboxes4Literacy that we are able to support the education of 15 children for 2015-16 school year at Sarada Vidyalayam in Kakinada, India through the registered Canadian charity Manjari Sankurathri Memorial Foundation (MSMF).

Thank you for your support and we look forward to the continued community support!


                                                                                                                            -United4Literacy Team

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

Just a thought!

When children are ensured a proper education, it is leads to a cycle where not just them, but even their future generations are educated. Support every child’s right to an education.

Be a part to break the cycle of illiteracy!

Prisons or Preschools?

"Do We Invest in Preschools or Prisons?" challenged the headline of a New York Times editorial by Nicholas Kirstof in which he concluded...

"Look, we'll have to confront the pathologies of poverty at some point. We can deal with them cheaply at the front end, in infancy. Or we can wait and jail a troubled adolescent at the tail end. To some extent, we face a choice between investing in preschools or prisons.

"We just might have a rare chance in the next couple of months to take steps toward such a landmark early childhood program in America. But children can't vote, and they have no highly paid lobbyist — so it'll happen only if we, the public, speak up."

Kristof is referring to President Obama's new "Preschool for All" initiative under which all four-year-olds in low- and moderate-income families will have access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs. The initiative also proposes expanding the availability of Early Head Start and home visiting programs.


-source ExchangeEveryDay

Diwali resolution

If we all do something, then together there is no problem that we cannot solve. Let’s join hands to create a happy environment for the children and ensure their rights are protected.

Happy Diwali!

On this Diwali, Let us all light at least one lamp of literacy to vanish the darkness of illiteracy around the world!

Call for an application

Are you enthusiastic about spreading literacy? Do you know the true value of education? Are you someone who wants to change lives?

If so then you are the type of person that we are looking for! United4Literacy would like to send out its first call for applications for local chapters. We are looking to open local chapters in countries across the world and help spread the light of literacy globally. If you are interested in working with us to open a local chapter of United4Literacy please contact us! You can become the founder of your local chapter and change the lives of countless children by giving them knowledge. Knowledge is the only tool that can help someone achieve their rights. So we should make it the ultimate right! Don’t miss this opportunity, get involved!

-united4literacy.org

Happy Birthday United4Literacy!

Hello Friends,

We would like to say a big thank you to all of you as we celebrate our first anniversary of the creation of United4Literacy! Originally conceived many years ago, united4literacy was actually put on wheels on September 22nd 2012.  We have had a very successful first year because of your support. On Facebook we have reached over 1700 likes and have over 530 friends plus 11 followers! We have reached over 1500 unique visitors on our blog from people in over 20 countries! We also have created a very successful website which has been viewed worldwide. We have used all these mediums to spread our message of how important literacy is for the individual, country and society. We have also raised funds to educate seven children throughout the year! These children will receive quality education that will brighten their future and allow them to open the doors to their dreams. We hope that our efforts have helped to raised awareness of how important education is. We would like to thank you all for your continual support and we hope to spread the light of literacy further in the coming years!

Thank you,
-Nitish Bhatt
 Founder and volunteer
 United4Literacy

And the award goes to...

India needs more of this to excel in the future. There most be recognition for good work of states. This is a big step forward in the state of Chhattisgarh, however we need the rest of India to follow suit!

Chhattisgarh has bagged the National Literacy Award. This is for the first time that state has received awards in all the three categories- state, district and panchayat. State school education minister Brijmohan Agrawal received the award from President Pranab Mukherjee on the occasion of International Literacy Day atVigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on Sunday.

In the state category, Chhattisgarh got the award for successful implementation of 'Sakshar Bharat Mission' in 23 of 27 districts of the state.

Koriya district panchayat president Chamma Devi Singh Pawle and sarpanch of Patna village panchayat in Baikunthpur block, Gayatri Singh, received the awards in their respective categories.

Every year, one state from the country, two districts and three best village panchayats are honoured for successful implementation of Total Literacy Campaign (TLC), Post Literacy Programme (PLP) and Continuing Education Programme (CEP).

The focus of 'Sakshar Bharat Mission' programme is to educate illiterates between 15 and 35 years, especially women. Under the programme, students of Classes X and XI, are motivated to impart education to illiterate children of tribal dominated areas of the state.

During last ten years from 2001 to 2011, the state literacy rate has increased by 5.64%. In 2001, the literacy rate of Chhattisgarh was 64.66%, which increased to 70.28% in 2011. The women literacy rate was more than that of men during this period.

Except Durg, Dhamtari, Balod and Bemethara, literacy programmes are going on in 23 districts.

Courtesy: Times of India

Who We Are

We at united4literacy have advocated many global issue that concern us and we would like to change. As a team of concerned and dedicated youth, we are inspired to bring the change we want to see. One of the global issues we would like to see changed is lack of literacy among the less fortunate. Thus we created united4litercy. We have also advocated for other global issues such as child labour, which is often the parent of child illiteracy. Also, we have tried to bring awareness about global warming and adequate health care services among poorer nations. Our next major concern is child literacy and we would like to see you, our fellow youth and concerned members of society step up and unite alongside us.

The Rights of Learners

"You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their successes, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins."
-Jim Stovall

In her contribution to the collection, "Respecting the Rights of the Learner", Lilian Katz offered these thoughts...

"Respectful teaching conveys, through the relationship between the teacher and the learner, confidence in the child’s potential ability to overcome difficulties and to persist in the face of some inevitable obstacles. A respectful teacher is one who helps learners of every age who have persisted in the face of setbacks to accept their limitations gracefully and to be satisfied that they have done their very best.

"A respectful teacher is also one who helps students, even the young ones, to evaluate their own accomplishments as they progress, not in terms of whether their work is good or bad, or right or wrong, but in terms of other criteria they can gradually develop the habit of using. For example, you can ask in a serious and respectful way, 'Is the drawing as complete as you want it to be?' or 'Does the story you wrote (or told) include as much detail as you think it should or could?' (Is it complete? Clear? Strong?) Even preschoolers have been observed to respond to such appropriate queries thoughtfully and to indicate the beginning of a life-long disposition to evaluate their own efforts thoughtfully."