This year, our theme, “Steps to Advance Literacy,” serves two purposes: We’re focusing on Jamaica—a small island where big things happen—and bringing awareness to the distance students in some countries must travel each day just to get to school.
— International Literacy Association
The International Literacy Association is getting ready to celebrate the United Nations International Literacy Day on September 8th with a focus on school children in Jamaica. Every journey, no matter how far, begins with first steps. This story began at a food pantry in Trenton NJ many years ago when Lorraine Smith, a world citizen and literacy champion with an unstoppable heart, welcomed magazines from MagazineLiteracy.org to feed children and families hungry to read. Lorraine dreamed of supplying reading materials to the children attending the school in Jamaica that she attended as a child. She founded Solutions For U and, to honor her mother, embarked on this mission accomplished to fill a barrel with Highlights for Kids magazines delivered into the eager hands of children at her childhood school. Lorraine is already planning to reach more children in more schools. iMAGine what’s possible and make it so! Join us.