Education/Literacy for Women

By Anna Kimutis

“Illiteracy is a bane. It cripples your life, limits your choices, ruins your present, and leaves little or no hope for the future.”

-Anupreet, Youthink! reader- India

Why did I choose this topic? I chose this topic, because I am a girl, so I

wanted to know what it would be like if I was in that position of being illiterate. Also, I know that I read so many words in just one day, and I couldn’t get through the day without reading. After researching this topic, I realized how lucky I was to be literate, and how I have an education that is very rare and special.

Problem

• Many people (especially in Africa) are illiterate, and cannot read and write

• It is so important to be literate because it is hard to get through a day without reading

• There are signs everywhere, and directions, and many other things that you have to be literate in to do

How is this a global issue?

• Significant- It is hard to get through life without reading, because you have to every day of your life.

• Transnational- It is happening all over the world, not in only one specific area.

• Persistent- People can’t become literate in one day, it takes time, and it is not a short process.

• Interconnected with other issues- It can relate to religious beliefs, access to education, poverty, and also sexism, because if men can read, people will think they are more important and smarter.

Things in the Way

• Health and well-being- It is easier to get into schools and easier to stay in them if you are healthy and well.

• Aid and funding- Too many schools are charging large fees in poor and rural areas, so many families just can’t afford to send their kids to school.

• Better policy- Some governments aren’t encouraging education and literacy.

• Gender disparity- Two-thirds of the kids who don’t go to school are girls.

• Access to quality education- In some places, even though kids are in school, the quality of the school isn’t good, so even though they are in school, they aren’t learning.

Where it is happeningSub Saharan Africa

40 million people are illiterate

22 million of them are girls

Where it is happeningSouth Asia

36 million people are illiterate

22 million of them are girls

Where it is happeningEast Asia and the Pacific

12 million people are illiterate

6 million of them are girls

Where it is happeningArab States

7.4 million people are illiterate

4.5 million of them are girls

Where it is happeningLatin America

2.5 million people are illiterate

1.2 million of them are girls

How you can help

• Become a tutor

• Donate books and school supplies

• If you are very interested in helping, help build schools with “Habitat for Humanity”

• Keep learning!!!!

Other facts

• Literacy programs don’t encourage literacy among poor and rural families because they want women to play the household roles like cooking and cleaning

• Research proved that there are benefits for literacy for women such as better maternal behaviors and successful family planning

• In almost every country, illiteracy rates are higher for women than men

Thanks for watching!!!!