International Literacy Day

International Literacy Day is celebrated annually on September 8 to recognize the importance of literacy as part of the fundamental right to education. The day also is an opportunity to remind the world that literacy is the foundation for lifelong learning, empowerment, health and wellbeing, and gender equality.

CODE is Canada’s leading international development agency dedicated to education and literacy. At CODE, we believe in the transformative power of the written word. Since our founding in 1959, our programming has expanded from shipping books overseas. We are grateful to the countless foundations, community groups and donors who have made it all possible.

In collaboration with our in-country partners, our programs emphasize teacher training and the creation of high-quality, locally authored children’s books, because literacy only blossoms when children can see themselves reflected in what they read.

Our impact is deep and measurable. Between 2019 and 2025, CODE empowered 1.6 million students, distributed 1.6 million culturally relevant books, and trained 25,000 educators.

We see this work realized in the Grade 1 classroom of Children’s Hope Elementary School, Liberia, where the classroom is filled with culturally appropriate and locally designed wall posters with letters of the alphabet and blended sounds. Bookshelves line the class filled with anthologies that have been developed by Liberian authors and published by Liberian publishers. The teacher – Mrs. Blaki – moves around the classroom providing support to groups of children working on literacy activities. A young girl, Aminata, is huddled together over a storybook and sounding out words.

As we mark International Literacy Day, we reflect on our vision: a world where every young person, like Aminata, can pursue literacy, through quality teaching and learning.

At this time, 9 out 10 children in Sub-Saharan Africa are suffering from what the World Bank terms “learning poverty,” which is defined by the inability to read and understand a simple text by age 10. And so, we know the work at CODE must continue and with partners such yourselves, we can work towards establishing literacy programs; develop local books; and work with teachers.

Together, we can write a brighter future—one child, one book, one teacher at a time.

-Sara McGinty, Director of International Programs and Partnership

Image: Aleks M/Unsplash

World Book Day 2023

WORLD BOOK DAY

I have only two memories of my Grade One year and both have to do with reading.  I was in the Bunnies reading group and I figured out that the Robins were better readers.  I began to bring my reader home every day and pestered Mom as she was trying to make supper “what’s this word?”  So in a very short time I made it to the Robins!  A Substitute teacher read a story to us and her way with the printed word was such that I could really imagine “the tigers running around a tree and turning to butter!”  I never looked at the pole in our basement classroom without that image coming into my mind. 

In a day where there not many “story books” either at home or school, a gift of a book to me was a treasure.  In Grade Six, our class received “a whole bunch of books” and our teacher captured our interest every day when she read a chapter of a selected book.  As a result, all the class (boys included) became avid readers. Later as a teacher myself, I made it a practice to read to my class at least once a day.

Living in Zambia, the reality meant that books were more difficult to find. Canadian visitors came with novels which in turn enabled us to become “a lending library” for several teachers at our school.  They became familiar with various authors and would request copies of their books to be brought back when we returned from home leave. Some even remarked that their English skills and vocabulary were improving.     

I discovered in the late ‘80’s that my friend, who was working with me in the Development and Peace Committee was an Award-winning Children’s Author.  After reading one of her books** to my Junior High class in Fort Good Hope, individual letters were written to her which included appreciation for her book; life in Fort Good Hope; or any other questions or comments they wanted to make.  Imagine our surprise and joy when each student received an individual letter from her!

Good authors like Monica Hughes touch the lives, hearts and imaginations of young and old around the world through their writings.

**The book read to the Students was Hunter in the Dark written by Monica Hughes, who won the 1983 Canada Council Literature prize. 

-Sister Amelia Belohorec,csj

Learning to Read and Reading to Learn

Just reading this blog means that you can count yourself among those in the world who are literate. Being able to read and understand what you are reading brings many privileges into your daily life that you probably don’t even think about: following a recipe, reading the newspaper, helping your child with their homework, and simply enjoying a good book.

Today is International Literacy Day. Each September 8th since 1967, the world has set aside this day to advocate for closing the gap in global literacy. In Canada, literacy rates are 99% but many other places around the world are not so fortunate. In the Republic of South Sudan, for example, only 26.8 percent of people aged 15 or older are literate. How can a child reach their full potential if they cannot read and understand a simple sentence?

We know too that literacy drives all other forms of development. Gains in education are linked to improved health, fewer child marriages, economic growth, a greener planet, and more peaceful societies. Education is life-changing.

Eight years before UNESCO designated International Literacy Day, CODE was born in a church basement in Toronto. In 1959, a group of educators, librarians, and publishing professionals began packing unused books to ship to Africa in tea chests.  Today we intentionally supply schools in Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique, and Sierra Leone with books that are written and illustrated by local authors and illustrators, often in African languages, so that children can relate to the stories and see themselves and their culture valued.

CODE is Canada’s leading international development agency focused uniquely on education and literacy. In addition to books, CODE provides training to teachers in the use of instructional strategies that transform education from a one-way transfer of information (rote learning) to a dynamic process where the student is reading the text themselves, engaged, asking questions and developing critical thinking skills. Students are not only learning to read but reading to learn.

Before coming to CODE, I had lived for almost 20 years in Africa. While the state of education and quality of schools varied from place to place, I observed that the push for education and the drive to break the cycle of poverty is universal.

In September 2019 I had the pleasure to meet Whyteline, a 12-year-old girl living with her mother in Ashanti Region in Ghana where CODE has been working since 1990. Whyteline is in her first year of junior high school and is eager to learn. Each morning she walks 45 minutes to get to school and every afternoon makes the same trek home. She loves to read the books that CODE has provided to her school. She reads them aloud to her mother whose English is poor.  Whyteline said this to me,

"My grandmother didn’t go to school because in those days, that is what happened. My mother finished junior high school, but I will go even further…. I want to be a doctor.”

I believe and CODE believes that Whyteline has the potential to be a doctor and contribute to the health of her community and the development of her country. On this International Literacy Day, take a moment to be thankful for your own opportunity to learn to read, and read to learn - and remember those around the world who are yearning for the same chance.  

 -Janet Phillips | Fund Development Manager | www.code.ngo

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The Sisters of St. Joseph are proud to support the work of CODE.