Open books 6-12 April 2009
From 6 to 12 April 2009 students, teachers and citizens in more than 100 countries of the world, will take part in an action called «Open Book» so as to send a loud message to the society and the politicians about the grave problem of illiteracy in the world.
Action Aid is responsible for the coordination in Greece for sixth consecutive years.
This year action is focused on the illiteracy young people and adults’. The basic means of this campaign is the «Open Book», a book that consists of stories of people from all over the world through which personal experiences concerning education are presented. These stories focus on how reading and writing has changed people’s lives and also how the lives of millions more people could change if the promises for Education for all were kept.
What exactly this year’s action involves?
To participate in the campaign you have to devote a little time during the week from 6th to 12th April so as to teach in class a lesson that sensitizes pupils to illiteracy and also read all or some of the stories that are included in the «Open Book» The «Open Book» consists of 8 stories which are globally-known in all national books (among them of Nelson Mandela, Paulo Coelho, Alice Walker, Queen Rania of Jordan). For the Greek version of the «Open Book» the writer Lena Divani has written a short story, while school pupils and trainee adults narrate their personal experiences on how education can change life.
In the end all those who participated and listened to the stories will sign a special plea card and send it to ActionAid. Those cards will be given to the Greek government. During ‘‘Open Book’’ reading you can invite colleagues and their classes so as more pupils listen to the stories and more signatures are collected.
If this idea interests you, you can organize something similar inviting at your school politicians and people who have the power to change things and promote this message. We want this message to reach as many receivers as possible during the week of action!
How can I participate?
Complete the form that is found in www.actionaid.gr/GAW2009 and send it to us until 6th March 2009 so as to receive the packet with the relevant educational material for the campaign, free of charge. In this way your class will participate to this international attempt.
What does the packet include?
• The «Open Book»
• The guide book of participation with information and suggested lesson plans.
• The plea card (one for each class that participates).
• The poster of the action.
• Stickers for each pupil who participates in the action
The reality of illiteracy in an international scale:
• 750 million adults are illiterate today.
• Το 64% of the illiterate people are women.
• Το 75% of the illiterate people live in 15 developing countries in the African countries below the Sahara Desert, in the South and West Asia and in Arabia.
• Education for All which has been signed by every country aims at the reduction of illiteracy in half until 2015. Under present conditions, most countries will not meet this goal.
• For more information contact the ActionAid, department of education in 2109212321, or in globalactionweek@actionaid.org.