25 September 2008

Laura Bush Announces $2 Million Grant for Literacy Programs

First lady commits to role as ambassador for literacy for many more years

Laura Bush, front row, center, hosts 36 other first ladies at a White House literacy symposium in New York.

By Judi Hasson
Special Correspondent

Washington — First lady Laura Bush, the honorary ambassador for the United Nations Literary Decade, has announced a $2 million grant to promote literacy around the world.

The $2 million will be used to boost literacy among women and girls; out-of-school youth, orphans and vulnerable children; and people disadvantaged or discriminated against based on age, economic level, religion, illness or disability.

Mrs. Bush, a former teacher and librarian, also told the scores of first ladies from around the world gathered in New York on September 22 that she is committed to remaining in her ambassador role through 2012, years after her husband leaves office.

The announcements came at the second White House Symposium on Advancing Global Literacy, which highlights literacy projects in the countries of first ladies in attendance.

The $2 million, provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will be placed in a special literacy fund to be used by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  Bush hopes that the grant will attract other donations from governments, foundations and corporations to support literacy projects in the 35 countries with the lowest literacy rates.

Bush spoke of successes in places like Zambia when she outlined the possible uses of the new literacy money.

There, health activist Jennifer Chiwela saw patients who could not read and thus could not follow written doctor’s instructions or understand labels on their pills.  Chiwela, who directs a charity called People's Action Forum, which trains caregivers and builds awareness of HIV/AIDS in Zambia, helped the organization launch a program — Reflect and HIV/AIDS — in which participants learn literacy and numeracy skills as they discuss strategies to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Laura Bush announces a $2 million grant and a new, personal commitment to promote worldwide literacy.

“We know that literacy is at the core of sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest problems,” Mrs. Bush said. “Literacy builds the foundation for freedom from poverty, freedom from disease and freedom from oppression.”

The latest data show that 774 million adults worldwide lack reading skills; 64 percent of them are women. The number of out-of-school children is 712 million, according to a UNESCO report.

But a drive for literacy has increased in many regions of the world, according to Alexander Zemek, director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO.

Sarah Moten of USAID, who attended the symposium, said she has seen progress since she began her job in 1999.  “There are more children in schools, especially girls,” Moten said. “There are more resources made available through teaching and learning material. There’s better training for teachers in order to be able to transfer the knowledge. And there is tremendous support from the United States.”

Bush’s education-related background has inspired her work as honorary ambassador since 2003.  “I’ve seen how our efforts to reduce illiteracy are making differences in nations around the world, and I look forward to continuing this work with each one of you,” she said during the symposium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Her announcement that she will remain in the position through 2012 was welcomed.

Bush’s involvement “has brought the importance of literacy to the world,” said Aida Iglesias, director of Alfalit International Inc., a Miami nonprofit group that provides literacy training in 25 countries.

Mrs. Bush said: “I look forward to promoting literacy education for years to come. From women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan to students in rural Zambia, literacy gives every person the freedom to achieve their full potential.

“The men and women who do not read today can be the doctors, the entrepreneurs and the teachers of tomorrow.”

For information on literacy statistics, see the UNESCO report titled “Education for All by 2015. Will We Make It?” (PDF, 11.82 MB).