Worldwide, 67 million children have no access to education, and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our members support educational projects that provide technology, teacher training, vocational training teams, student meal programs, and low-cost textbooks to communities. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
Basic education and literacy is one of The Rotary Foundation’s six areas of focus. We know that basic education and literacy are essential for reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace.
 
Consider these facts:
  • If all women completed primary education, there would be 66% fewer maternal deaths.
  • A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.
  • If all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty, which would be equivalent to a 12% cut in world poverty.
Internationally, District 7010 is a proud supporter of the Guatemalan Literacy Project, a partnership between Rotary and CoEd to promote literacy in Guatemala, the R.E.L.A.Y. Project in Africa (Rotarians Enhancing Learning of African Youth) and the Rotarian School in the province of Svay Rieng, Cambodia. Locally, many clubs promote education and literacy in their own communities through financial sponsorship.