EMPOWERING PEOPLE THROUGH LITERACY

In Rotary, we recognize March as Literacy Month. This is when we focus on the importance of literacy and education in our humanitarian service. In my decades as a Rotarian, both at home in Alabama, USA, and abroad, I have seen again and again what a critical role literacy plays in a healthy and productive life. Being literate does not just mean having the ability to read a book or a newspaper. Being literate means being able to comprehend the instructions on a medicine bottle, a set of directions, or a job posting. It means understanding the note written by a child’s teacher. It means being able to use a computer, follow a recipe, or apply for a mortgage. Literacy means being part of the larger society. It means inclusion, and it means empowerment.

Those who cannot read or write, whether they are children or adults, are cut off from important information in ways too numerous to count. They are less likely to be healthy and more likely to be poor. And perhaps most critical of all, parents who cannot read are more likely to raise children who cannot read – perpetuating the cycle of illiteracy, and of poverty.

As a Rotarian and in my profession, I have seen so many simple and creative ways to break this cycle. Whether it is by volunteering in schools, by bringing education and training to adults, or simply by ensuring that all children have the books and supplies they need, we in Rotary can do so much. We can help others learn to read – and learn to help themselves.

Glenn E. Estess Sr.
Foundation Trustee Chair