UNITED WAY GHANA COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY 2023 IN ACCRA, KUMASI AND SENYA - BERAKU.
International Literacy Day 2023 was celebrated under the theme "Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies”. on the 8th and 9th of September 2023, at the Kanda Cluster of Schools (comprising Ring Road Basic School, Kanda AMA Basic School, Kanda Estate 3 & 5, and Islamic Training Institute Basic School), Aplaku Cluster of Schools in Accra, Parkoso R/C Basic School in Kumasi, and in Senya-Beraku.
This year, United Way Ghana also celebrates its 20 years of operating in Ghana and we are filled with gratitude and a sense of purpose. For two decades, United Way Ghana has been at the forefront of bridging the educational gap in Ghana through its flagship program, "Improving Basic Education." We have worked tirelessly to enhance access to and the delivery of quality education in Ghana, both within and outside the school environment. This has been made possible through the generous support of partners like the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Library Authority.
This year's International Literacy Day was made even more special as it was celebrated in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank PricewaterhouseCoopers Ghana, and UPS Ghana, facilitated by United Way Worldwide. Together, we are aligned in our efforts to contribute to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 - Quality Education.
Our focus this year was to galvanize individuals and organizations to harness the empowering force of childhood literacy. Through activities such as quiz competitions, reading and listening comprehension, story-telling, book drives, spelling contests, coaching, mentorship sessions, face painting, and literacy games, we aimed to enhance the literacy skills of young learners. We also sought to increase access to age-appropriate books, fostering a love for reading among children.
The participants of the various activities not only had the opportunity to develop essential literacy skills but also received the gift of knowledge through the donation of approximately 300 storybooks. Winners of the quiz competitions were also awarded storybooks, exercise books, and stationery items. The two-day International Literacy Day commemoration benefitted over 3,000 young learners, 8 participating schools, 3 regions and 4 communities from Accra, Kumasi, and Senya-Beraku and brought together more than 150 volunteers.
Over the past two decades, United Way Ghana has achieved remarkable milestones by forging partnerships with corporates and philanthropists. Through these collaborations, we have provided continuous access to age-appropriate books for thousands of young learners and paired them with mentors who have played a pivotal role in ensuring academic excellence.
As a member of the United Way Worldwide Network, the largest privately-funded nonprofit organization globally, we are part of a network working in over 1,100 communities and 37 countries. Our focus areas encompass Education, Health, and Economic Empowerment—the building blocks for creating resilient communities and making a significant social impact.
At United Way Ghana, we envision a society where every person is empowered to lead an informed, healthy, and productive life. We remain dedicated to fighting for the education, health, and financial stability of individuals in underserved communities in Ghana.