Here at EQHO, we're big fans of people who can read and write in more than one language.
Apart from the fact that it's brilliant for our business to have loads of talented polyglots to employ, we also believe that speaking a second language is great for personal development.
However, not everyone is lucky enough to be literate and so UNESCO is hoping to raise awareness of this fact through its annual International Literacy Day. Taking place on September 8th, it will seek to demonstrate the importance of being able to read and write.
The power of literacy
When you consider that one in five adults in the world cannot write their own name or read a line from a book, it's essential that all efforts are made to improve upon this statistic, as education can empower people to make the right decisions in life.
To this end, a series of events are being held across the globe, including a special celebration in Spanish in Cuba, with English-speaking countries such as New Zealand also taking part.
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in no doubts about the importance of literacy, as he sees it as a "key lever of change and a practical tool of empowerment on each of the three main pillars of sustainable development: economic development, social development and environmental protection".
#LiteracySelfie
While people may be wondering how they can get involved, the power of social media has once again come to the fore, with everyone being encouraged to post a photo onto Twitter and Facebook holding their favourite book with the hashtag #LiteracySelfie.
Although it may seem like an insignificant action, if enough do upload photos, the event will receive greater awareness, which can only be a good thing.
We've already shown through our Read for the Blind initiative that corporate social responsibility is important to us and we think that #LiteracySelfie is a great idea. Now where's my copy of The Great Gatsby…
