Rotary Promotes Literacy A Look at Rotary’s Literacy Efforts Worldwide and How Rotary Club of Winnetka Can Help Your Club Add Free e-Learning Courses for Your Literacy Project...

What Is Literacy? Traditionally, literacy is defined as a person’s ability to read and write. It can also include functional abilities, like using a computer, understanding how to prevent certain diseases, or reading signs in a market.

Literacy Is Important Literacy empowers people and is essential for community development. Literate populations are more likely to Develop economically Live healthier lives Be more peaceful

The Global Situation Nearly 800 million people worldwide over the age of 15 can neither read nor write. Women and girls account for about 64 percent of this group. Nearly half of all children in Africa will not complete secondary school.

Adult Illiteracy Rates by Region Number of People (in millions)

Rotary Supports Literacy Whether donating dictionaries, building schools, or acting as tutors, Rotarians are active in efforts to reduce illiteracy around the world. A natural 2008-plus initiative for your club is to add computer-based educational courses available free for your Rotary literacy project.

Rotarian Literacy Projects Each year, Rotarians carry out thousands of projects to Expand and improve early childhood literacy and education programs for both boys and girls Improve the ability of teachers to teach and empower schools to meet the needs of students in the community Increase access to adult learning programs for both men and women Promote positive community environments for literacy Reduce barriers to literacy Computers and Internet access can aid learning opportunities

Literacy Resources Tools to Support Rotarian Literacy Projects

Literacy Resource Group Appointed annually by the RI president, the Literacy Resource Group is a network of Rotarian volunteers who support and encourage Rotary club and district participation in literacy activities worldwide.

Resource Group Structure General coordinator and assistant general coordinator promote global literacy efforts. Six area coordinators support regional literacy efforts in Asia, the South Pacific & Southern Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The 39 zone coordinators help support and encourage district literacy activities. Each district appoints a coordinator to help facilitate Rotarian and club literacy projects.

Work with the Resource Group Contact your district or zone coordinator for literacy resources and project ideas. Share project successes with district coordinator, zone coordinator, or Rotary International. Appoint a club literacy project coordinator to work with your district coordinator. Learn more about the Literacy Resource Group at

Contact the Resource Group Find contact information in the Official Directory, or contact RI: Rotary International (PD210) 1560 Sherman Avenue Evanston, IL USA Phone: Fax:

Cooperating for Literacy To support Rotarian literacy projects, Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield proposes a framework LEARNING CENTERS FOR KIDS, a cooperative relationship with e-Learning for Kids, a global non-profit foundation who provides everything needed for children ages to access FUN and FREE learning on the Internet. LEARNING CENTERS FOR KIDS

Opportunities Children’s futures depend on their ability to master the basics of reading, science, math and computers Yet costs, class sizes and other issues prevent children access to quality online learning Literacy-plus: if your Rotary Club’s literacy project involves helping provide books, computers, libraries, or schools, consider building more value and stronger relationship with equipping the kids with e-Learning software. e-Learning, which stands for Electronic-Learning or computer-based learning

Why e-Learning for Kids? Established in late 2004, the vision of e-Learning for Kids (EFK) is to be the source for childhood learning on the Internet – available from anywhere and without charge to your Rotary project. The EFK Foundation offers 80+ best-in-class courseware in Math, Science, Reading, Computer Skills, English Language (ESL), Health and Life Skills. A subset of the courses are available on CD-ROM for when Internet access is not feasible.

Why e-Learning for Kids? Volunteer staff consists of committed education and e-Learning experts and business professionals from around the world. Team members develop and source e-Learning courseware, marshal resources for education content, collaborate with other educational foundations, reach out to corporations and associations for funding and sponsorships, and build awareness among schools and the media. Translating 20 courses to Spanish, French and Portuguese (2008 Initiative).

Help Your Club’s Create a Learning Center For Kids TEACHERS, BOOKS, & COMPUTERS: 3 building blocks that Rotary Clubs can use to reach more kids STRATEGIES TO GET COMPUTERS: Your Club Can Donate Recycled or New Computers Submit an Close The Gap Application to Request Computers Submit an Intel Grant Application from To Request Classmate PC ROTARY CLUB OF WINNETKA IMPLEMENTATION TIPS : Visit Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Club’s website, and click on Learning Centers For Kids for tips you can use with your project and our club member’s contact info who can help you with questions. Centers For Kids SPREAD THE WORD: POST THE E-LEARNING FOR KIDS BANNER AND LINK ON YOUR WEBSITE!

Take a course online or learn more at Take a course online or learn more at

Cooperating for Literacy To better support Rotarian literacy projects, Rotary International maintains a cooperative relationship with the International Reading Association.

International Reading Association A professional membership organization dedicated to promoting high levels of literacy for all Seeks to improve the quality of reading instruction and disseminate research and information about literacy Includes a network of 300,000 educators in nearly 100 countries who support a thriving professional program of publications, meetings, and advocacy and outreach efforts locally, nationally, and internationally

Cooperating for Literacy in Your Community Discuss literacy issues with Reading Association members in your community. Ask Reading Association members to speak about literacy at your club. Plan a joint literacy project with your local Reading Association. Celebrate International Literacy Day, 8 September, with a local Reading Association.

Learn More about the International Reading Association International Reading Association 800 Barksdale Road PO Box 8139 Newark, DE USA Phone: Fax:

Key Rotary Literacy Dates March – Literacy MonthLiteracy Month 8 September – International Literacy DayInternational Literacy Day

Other Rotary Literacy Resources RI Web site: Free Online Educational Courses for Kids (EFK) Free Online Educational Courses for Kids Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield (Implementation Tips) Close the Gap (collects recycled PCs for developing countries) Intel’s Deploy 1:1 e-Learning environments toolkit Intel’s Deploy 1:1 e-Learning environments toolkit Communities in Action: A Guide to Effective Projects A Menu of Service Opportunities Community Assessment Tools World Community Service Projects Exchange Community Projects Database Fact sheet on International Reading Association