Rotary Literacy Month
A Message from President Christine
Welcome to September and Literacy Month in the Rotary calendar.
Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write and includes not just “word” skills but also mathematical skills, a fact that is sometimes overlooked. In 1985, Rotary declared basic literacy to be a pre-condition to the development of peace and basic education and literacy is one of Rotary International’s six Areas of Focus. More than half the world’s Rotary club’s address the needs of literacy in the communities they serve and our Club is no exception.
Rotary Sunrise Cayman adopted literacy as a signature project many years ago and at that time made literacy an avenue of service within the Club with its own committee and Board position. In the years since the idea was born over dinner at Casanova’s one night, Sunrise Rotarians have read to hundreds of children, CALS has been introduced in a number of different settings in Cayman as well as in Belize, hundreds of dictionaries have been distributed to children and we have given birth to a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting literacy – LIFE.
There is more to be done and we cannot become complacent. Children and adults in our community still need our help to ensure that everyone in our community can achieve a basic level of reading, writing and numerical skills. Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said "Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.” He went on to add that it is the “means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential."
This year we will continue our long established literacy programs and launch new ones which Literacy Director, Su Mander, will tell you more about throughout the month. I ask that each member support at least one literacy initiative during this
Rotary year. I thank you in advance for doing your part to lending a hand to our literacy efforts.
The Rotary Sunrise Literacy Committee will hold its next regular meeting tomorrow (Thursday), September 3rd at 5:30pm in the upstairs conference room at the Foster’s Food Fair Airport location.