Since 2013, the Rotary Club of St. Marys has been donating books to the St. Marys Public Library in honour of their guest speakers. To date, almost 400 books have been donated to the library. On
September 10, 2021, members of our Literacy Committee presented Library CEO, Sarah Andrews, with a cheque to cover the cost of the books purchased for this program. Pictured in the Rotary Reading Garden at the library are Literacy Committee Chair, Linda Schuyler (seated L), Library CEO, Sarah Andrews
(seated R), and standing are Rotarians Ron Aitken (L) and Pierre Chateauvert (R).
INTRODUCTION TO BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY
Basic education and literacy is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus.
We know that basic education and literacy are essential for reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace. Consider these facts:
1. If all women completed primary education, there would be 66% fewer maternal deaths.
2. A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of five.
3. If all students in low-income countries left school with basic reading skills, 171 million people could be lifted out of poverty, which would be equivalent to a 12% cut in world poverty.