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[2009-04-08] Two weeks to go for Global Action Week!

The 7th edition of the Global Campaign for Education's (GCE) world-wide action is fast approaching. From 20-26 Apr, many exciting advocacy and awareness-raising activities will be carried out by teacher unions around the world to advocate for the two most neglected of the six objectives on Education for All: Youth and Adult Literacy and Lifelong Learning.

Rallies, debates, seminars, information stands, public readings, artistic events, press mediation and mass distribution of materials in schools and organisations will be among the actions undertaken by EI member organisations to draw attention to the power of literacy.

Literacy is a human right!

Today, 776 million adults are illiterate, of whom two-thirds are women. Literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means to social, cultural and human development. Providing adults with access to literacy programmes and children with access to school are both fundamental steps in tackling poverty.

Take part in this year's "Big Read" to help combat illiteracy

It takes, above all, political will to establish effective programmes for adult and youth literacy. Therefore, EI encourages all unions, teachers, students and education advocates to join in national actions which reflect this year's slogan: "Open Books, Open Doors", and to contribute to the campaign's main activity, "The Big Read".

The Big Read is a compilation of short stories around the significance of education and literacy. Written by numerous personalities around the world, it is the main goal to collect in this global publication as many signatures as possible to be delivered to governments at the end of the Global Action Week.

What EI member organisations are doing this Global Action Week

The Argentinean coalition will seize the opportunity given by the International Book Fair in Buenos Aires to disseminate information.

Members in Bosnia and Herzegovina will organize workshops for industrial workers.

The Brazilian CNTE expects to hold a public audience at the National Congress.

In Zambia, ZNUT will conduct a campaign in rural areas where child labour is a problem at large, while carrying awareness-raising visits to prisons and juvenile detention centres.

In Denmark, a large demonstration will be organised by the national coalition in Copenhagen on 22 April where all participants at the Fast Track Initiative Partnership Conference are invited to attend.

Download your material here!

To help in the promotion of the Global Action Week activities, a pack of materials including a poster, a leaflet and stickers has been distributed by EI to all affiliates and is still available for download from EI's global action week website: www.ei-ie.org/globalactionweek

EI acknowledges the commitment and enthusiasm of teacher unions in the run-up to an influential Global Action Week. Find out what's happening in your country, join the campaign for universal education, and tell us about it!

For more information on Global Action Week, please contact us at: globalactionweek@ei-ie.org