September is Basic Education and Literacy Month. Our goal as Rotarians is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
More than 775 million people over the age of 15, world-wide, are illiterate. That’s 17% of the world’s adult population!
Fortunately, Rotarians are making a difference and improving these statistics. Whether here at home in our district, or internationally in the countries most needed. As Don and I travel around District 5190 we see many accomplishments that serve to enhance education.
Some of the projects our clubs are doing include:
Little Libraries: Where books are donated and placed in small receptacles around the community and easily assessable. The idea is to take a book and leave another book in the receptacle.
Donate Books: Clubs purchase dictionaries and children’s books and donate them to schools and shelters. Some clubs donate a book in the name of their guest speakers to the local library.
Read to Kids: Rotarians love to read to kids, and this is being done through-out our district at multiple locations, be it schools, child-care centers, or nursery schools.
Donations of School Supplies: Several of our clubs have put together back packs with school supplies for children in need as they returned to school this past month.
Sponsorships of Local Schools: This is a great way to support education and encourage students to excel. The club sponsors a school, then implements a “Student-of-the-Month” program. Each month a student from each grade level is selected by their teachers and invited to a club meeting where they enjoy a meal and are recognized by the Rotarians for their good work.
Scholarships: I am amazed at the amount of dollars that are budgeted by our clubs to recognize students in our district each year. Generally, graduating seniors, but also in middle-school, and returning college students.
RYLA & REGL: These are two wonderful programs that provide funding for students to experience a leadership program that truly changes lives. I witnessed this first-hand at our recent RYLA camps. REGL will be offered this month at Grizzley Creek Ranch.
International Educational projects: And, of course, there are numerous projects being done globally with the help of The Rotary Foundation that improve literacy and provide educational opportunities for those in need, as well as empowering girls.
I am very proud of the work our clubs are doing, despite the limitations of the ongoing Covid pandemic. Rotarians are resilient and can easily adapt to change.
“To reach a port, we must sail---sail, not tie at anchor---sail, not drift.” - Franklin Roosevelt
