Believers Church Dioceses Celebrate International Literacy Day; Massive Efforts Undertaken to Promote Literacy

As the world observed the 51st International Literacy Day on September 8th 2017, Believers Church, all across its dioceses organized a series of events highlighting the importance of literacy to mark the occasion.

This year the day was celebrated around the globe under the theme ‘Literacy in a digital world’ to highlight the challenges and opportunities in promoting literacy in the digital world. Joining the rest of the world, Believers Church celebrated the day to raise awareness about the need to work towards making individuals, communities and societies literate.

Launching of New Adult Literacy Centers

With the aim of helping illiterate women in rural areas learn how to read and write, Dioceses of Vijayawada, Dehradun, Mandla, Vyara, Mumbai, Gorakhpur, Tezpur, Jeypore, Berhampore, Vijayawada, Goa and Hubli launched new adult literacy centers at around 160 locations in honor of the day. Hundreds of women including widows and marginalized women living in hard-to-reach areas will receive free education and become self-reliant through these new literacy centers.

Awareness Programs

Through different programs held in cities, villages, colonies, slums and tea garden areas, Believers Church dioceses were able to spread awareness about the importance of literacy among people from all walks of life.

Rallies

As part of the celebration, Dioceses of Siliguri, Vyara, Dehradun, Ranchi, Vijayawada, Bengaluru and Banswara took out rallies. The participants of the rally carried placards and banners and shouted slogans such as, ‘Literacy changes the world’, ‘Education is a gift that none can take away’ to sensitize the general public about the importance of education.

Competitions

Various competitions involving reading and writing were also organized among women who have already learned how to read and write through the literacy centers run by the church. The competitions held to celebrate their accomplishments have motivated them to continue the journey of education and never stop learning. Active participants and winners of the contests were awarded with certificates and gifts.

Study Aid Distribution

Literacy books and other study aids such as notebooks, erasers, pencils and slates were also distributed in celebration of the day by Dioceses of Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Dehradun, Birtamod, Diphu, Gorakhpur, Mumbai, and Buniyadpur. The study tools were distributed to the women who are newly enrolled in literacy units and also to school-going children hailing from economically backward families, including 100 children in two slums.