September 8, 2014

 “Literacy is a key lever of change and a practical tool of empowerment on each of the three main pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection.”

- Former U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan

Today is International Literacy Day; the theme for 2014 is “Literacy and Sustainable Development.” Click on that link to watch videos, read and learn more about how literacy affects economic growth, social development and environmental protection. A main celebration today is in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the government and UNESCO are hosting a conference on girls’ and women’s literacy and education.

Today’s photo is from a recent story by Joachim Pham: Nuns struggle to alleviate illiteracy among disadvantaged children

Images