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Poverty and Literacy Statistics

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Poverty often has a negative impact on one’s ability to become literate and obtain education in general. Consider the following poverty and literacy statistics: “Globally, at least 773 million youth and adults still cannot read and write, and 250 million children are failing to acquire basic literacy skills,” according to UNESCO. “This results in an exclusion of low-literate and low-skilled youth and adults from full participation in their communities and societies.” 1 “In developing countries, approximately one in every two adults can’t read or write, with the situation only worse in the rural areas, especially for women and minors,” according to the Borgen Project. 2 “Factors linked to poverty such as unemployment, illness and the illiteracy of parents, multiply the risk of non-schooling and the drop-out rate of a child by [the age of] 2,” according to Humanium, an international NGO for children’s rights. 3 “53 percent of children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and u...
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Literacy Organizations that Help Overcome Poverty

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Approximately 736 million people worldwide live below the poverty line, earning $1.90 a day or less. 1 1 Education can be crucial to overcoming poverty, especially in cases of generational poverty that are often linked to parents’ lack of education. Yet 773 million people over the age of 15 cannot read or write, and “250 million children are failing to acquire basic literacy skills,” according to UNESCO. 2 There are various literacy organizations that address this issue by helping such individuals attain the basic skills they need to rise out of abject poverty. In 1966, UNESCO established International Literacy Day to raise awareness and concern for literacy problems in communities across the globe to “remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights.” 3 While this event raises awareness on a single day of the year, UNESCO and other organizations promote literacy and education throughout the year. Some organizations focus on educating children....
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Helping People Attain Literacy: Nonprofit GFA World

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It’s estimated that one in every two adults in developing countries can’t read or write. 1 Literacy and education are closely linked to one’s economic opportunity, and their lack is closely linked to poverty and one’s inability to escape it. An organization helping people attain literacy is nonprofit GFA World. In pursuit of transforming lives and communities, this organization is helping families attain the education necessary to succeed. One way GFA World assists families is through its child sponsorship program. This program provides children basic necessities and educational assistance, ensuring they have a solid foundation for a brighter future. As of 2020, more than 139,000 impoverished children have been helped through GFA World’s Child Sponsorship Program. GFA World also has an adult literacy program. People who grow up in poverty often can’t afford to attend, or complete, school as children, and they are much less likely to gain literacy as adults. UNESCO estimates 750 mill...
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When Adult Literacy Lags

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In developing countries, there is a dearth of adult literacy. Approximately 773 million youth and adults cannot read or write. 1 This lack negatively impacts individual’s economic opportunities and many other facets of their life, including parents’ ability to properly care for their children. It also prevents adults from fully participating in their communities and societies. 2 Education typically begins in childhood. Reading, which children should be able to do by age 10, is a “gateway for learning,” declares The World Bank, a global institution fighting poverty through sustainable solutions. 3 It is essential to education and the opportunities it brings. Yet only half of children in low- and middle-income countries, and 20 percent in some poor countries, can read and understand a simple story by the end of primary school. 4 If people don’t gain these basic skills as children, they’re much less likely to do so as adults. Adult illiteracy can cause shame and embarrassment. It also ...
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What Are Some Important Poverty Literacy Statistics?

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Poverty literacy statistics give us insight into geographic areas where literacy programs are most needed, where programs are effective, and how lives are changed when reading programs are utilized. Here are some statistics: Illiteracy is most prevalent in developing countries. 1 South Asian, Arab and Sub-Saharan African countries are regions with the highest illiteracy rates at about 40 to 50 percent. 1 East Asia and Latin America have illiteracy rates in the 10–15 percent region, while developed countries have illiteracy rates of a few percent. 1 “In many countries more than 95% have basic literacy skills. Literacy skills of the majority of the population is a modern achievement … Globally, however, large inequalities remain, notably between sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world. In Burkina Faso, Niger and South Sudan – the African countries at the bottom of the rank – literacy rates are still below 30%.” 2 “As a whole, the global literacy rate is high. The literacy rate for a...
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Literacy Organizations

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The skills needed for reading and writing can be challenging to learn, especially as an adult. That’s why the methods literacy organizations use is so important. There needs to be phonemic awareness—an awareness of sounds used in a language. The student must also achieve an active vocabulary and understand spelling. And, of course, reading is useless without comprehension and being able to visualize what one is reading. 1 The women’s literacy classes supported by GFA are taught by women national workers who are trained in teaching adult literacy. This includes reading, writing, and basic math skills. When these classes are finished, the woman is capable of reading basic language and performing math skills needed in the marketplace. In these literacy classes, the teachers write letters and words, often using a chalkboard, to teach each student. They often guide the student’s hand and help them learn to hold a pencil to write those same words. When teaching adults, there is often more f...
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How Do I Select a Literacy Nonprofit to Support? What Questions Do I Ask?

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A literacy nonprofit is a great cause to support. These organizations often rely on donations to fulfill their mission of teaching adults and children how to read. Here are some questions for you to consider: What regions do you work in? Most people who are illiterate live in developing countries, especially in the regions of south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. At GFA World, we have served the people of Asia since 1979. We recently began ministry in Rwanda and look forward to reaching that area as well. Who teaches the literacy classes? Are the teachers trained in teaching adult literacy? This is an important question because teaching literacy to adults is a specialized skill set. It is also helpful to be familiar with the culture and needs of a particular community or people group. GFA workers and volunteers, mostly women, serve as teachers in GFA’s program, so students have the opportunity to grow. These women receive special training in how to teach literacy to adults. The teachers o...
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