ProLiteracy Takes Part in Global Literacy Symposium

First Lady hosts “invitation only” event in NYC

(Syracuse, NY, Sept. 22, 2008)
ProLiteracy, the largest organization of adult literacy and basic education programs, was among a small number of nongovernmental agencies taking part in today’s White House Symposium on Advancing Global Literacy, hosted by First Lady Laura Bush.

David C. Harvey, ProLiteracy president and CEO, said ProLiteracy was one of 10 community and nongovernmental organizations invited to attend the high level discussion. Panelists included Mexico’s First Lady Margarita Zavala, Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, the wife of the President of the Republic of Mali, and the vice chairman of the 11th National People’s Congress Standing Committee of the People’s Republic of China.

Panelists discussed the results of six regional literacy conferences sponsored by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Harvey said discussion linked literacy to disease prevention, economic self-sufficiency, safety, and conflict resolution. Harvey noted that Mrs. Bush emphasized adult literacy when she discussed literacy “for every man, woman, and child.” He also said Princess Laurentien focused on adult literacy in her role as chair of The Reading and Writing Foundation of the Netherlands.

UNESCO estimates that globally, more than 770 million adults are illiterate in their native languages. An estimated 30 million adults in the U.S. read so poorly that they cannot complete a job application or follow the directions on a prescription drug label.

“It is very important to the cause of adult literacy that it be discussed at this high a level of government,” Harvey said. “Too often countries talk only in terms of improving child literacy. Those of us in the adult literacy field know that literate parents are the key to having literate children.”

Harvey said it was a great honor to have ProLiteracy invited to take part in such a prestigious literacy event. He was joined by Roberto Perez and Carlos de Lam of Alfalit, which partners with ProLiteracy on international projects that combine literacy instruction with community development projects. Also present were Nancy Williams of Verizon and Denine Torr of Dollar General. Both companies are long-time supporters of ProLiteracy.

Harvey said that Mrs. Bush pledged $2.5 million to the United Nations’ Literacy Decade Fund at the event at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also agreed to a request by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura to remain a UN literacy ambassador through 2012.

About ProLiteracy
ProLiteracy promotes literacy in the context of people’s daily lives —at home, at work, and in the community —through education, training and technical assistance, publications, research, policy development, and advocacy. ProLiteracy works with adult new readers and learners, and in partnership with local, national and international organizations, including volunteer-based literacy programs and the traditional adult basic education system, and agencies specializing in workforce readiness, health literacy, and English as a second language. ProLiteracy has member programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Internationally, ProLiteracy works with 125 nongovernmental agencies in 65 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. ProLiteracy’s publishing division, New Readers Press, develops and distributes literacy instructional products.