WORLD LITERACY CAMPAIGN

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30951, 6 January 1966, Page 7

WORLD LITERACY CAMPAIGN

A generation ago in many parts of the world an illiterate could be a contented and useful member of society. Today this is no longer true. At best the illiterate, however able, is frustrated from improving his standard of living, at worst he is a rejected and useless outcast. There are today 700 million of these rejects and their number grows by 25 to 30 million a year. Illiteracy is an affront to human dignity and an obstacle to social and economic development. It is a luxury that even the richest nations cannot afford, yet it is the poorer countries that carry this burden; at the same time the cause and consequence of their poverty, says the New Zealand Commission for U.N.E.S.C.O. In some countries mass literacy campaigns have succeeded. In others, because of insufficient money, manpower, or enthusiasm they have failed. For these reasons a

World Campaign for Universal Literacy has been launched by the United Nations in which U.N.E.S.C.O. will play an important part. U.N.E.S.C.O. has adopted a new programme that will be selective, confining itself initially to eight countries. It will be intensive, aiming at the productive sectors of society where the immediate benefits of reading and writing will ensure that new won literates stay literate. At the same time literacy in these sectors brings about increased production; a direct economic benefit for the society as a whole. Through U.N.E.S.C.O.’s Gift Coupon Programme New Zealand organisations (schools, churches, etc.) and individuals will be able to help these projects, and they call at present give immediate help to existing literacy projects. These range from a single community centre in a Greek mountain village, to a centre in Mexico to train

literacy experts for an entire continent. In each case the project has been screened to determine that the need for outside aid is acute and that local support and enthusiasm are genuine.

Gift Coupons are sent directly by donor groups to beneficiaries of their choice and no money is deducted for administrative costs. The assistance given is total, direct, and personal; the procedure is simple. Write to C.0.R.5.0. for a list of gift coupon projects and choose according to the geographical area or type of institution you wish to help. Then exchange the money raised by your group for U.N.E.S.C.O. Gift Coupons, which are supplied by C.0.R.5.0. Send them direct to your chosen project where they will be used to buy the equipment and materials so urgently needed. C.0.R.5.0. has offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.