To show our support for International Literacy Day, we’re looking at five famous philanthropists championing literacy around the world.
International Literacy Day is celebrated annually on the 8th of September and was established by UNESCO in 1967 ‘to remind the public of the importance of literacy as a matter of dignity and human rights, and to advance the literacy agenda towards a more literate and sustainable society’.
To show our support for the cause, we’re looking at five famous philanthropists championing literacy around the world.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai, the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate, has become a symbol of the fight for girls’ education. Born in Pakistan, Malala’s advocacy for education led to an assassination attempt by the Taliban when she was 15.
She set up the Malala Fund with her father in 2013. Through the fund, she is championing every girl’s right to 12 years of free, safe, quality education. The organisation invests in education advocates and activists who are challenging the policies and practices that prevent girls from going to school in their communities.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey, one of the world’s most influential women, has long been a champion of literacy. She founded the iconic Oprah’s Book Club in 1996, inspiring millions to read and discuss books together.
She established the Oprah Winfrey Foundation in 2007. The Foundation prioritises making quality education accessible and giving leaders a chance to lift themselves and others. That same year, she founded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa, which strives to provide a nurturing educational environment for academically gifted girls who come from impoverished backgrounds.
Bill and Melinda Gates
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was founded in 2000 by the Microsoft co-founder and his wife. It’s reported to be the second-largest charitable foundation in the world and was set up to enhance healthcare, reduce extreme poverty worldwide, and expand educational opportunities and access to information technology in the US.
The foundation’s programs in the US work to transform schools, systems, and society to create life-changing opportunities for learning, growth, and prosperity.
Shakira
Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira is passionate about people’s right to education. She founded the Barefoot Foundation (Fundación Pies Descalzos) in 1997 to help children and young people in Columbia access quality public education.
The foundation has five schools across Colombia that provide education and meals for 4,000 children.
LeBron James
NBA superstar LeBron James has used his platform to champion education and literacy. In 2018, he opened the I PROMISE School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, through the LeBron James Family Foundation. The school serves at-risk students and their families, providing a supportive environment that focuses not only on academics but also on the social and emotional needs of the children.
Students graduating high school with a minimum 3.0 grade point average can access free tuition at the University of Akron. The Akron I Promise Network Scholarship was developed between the University of Akron, the LeBron James Family Foundation, and JPMorgan Chase in 2015.
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