Remember Kamuli on International Literacy Day

On Sunday September 8th the world will observe International Literacy Day. Established back in 1965, it's a day when UNESCO reminds the international community of the status of literacy and adult learning.

A pupil in Kamuli enjoying reading aloud to the class. 

It's an important date not just for Uganda, but for Africa generally. According to UNESCO figures, the overall literacy rate for sub-Saharan Africa stands at 63 per cent.  Uganda doesn't fare too badly by African standards, with an overall adult literacy rate of 73 per cent.

But the picture in rural areas is much worse. And Kamuli, where UDS works, registers the third lowest reading skills in the country for primary school children. A recent government survey revealed that children aged 10-11 in Kamuli register a literacy level of just 14 per cent.

UDS is trying to do something about this - both with our well-established book box programme, and with our new reading project in primary schools. All the experts agree that the biggest barrier to increasing literacy is the lack of books. 

We kicked off our primary literacy project by providing more than 260 books to just two schools. We are also training teachers, opening reading and debating clubs and doing all we can to get children reading at an early age. Of course, we'd like to do more, which we can do only with your donations.  So please remember us on International Literacy Day, September 8th. You could set up a regular standing order via our  donations page or text UDSL13 followed by £5 to 70070 and you could  be helping these children  have a better start to life.