Multilingual education as a key for mutual understanding and peacebuilding in a diverse world, and REMAR’s impact on the education of vulnerable children and youth over 40 years.
On September 8, the world once again celebrates International Literacy Day (ILD), established by UNESCO in 1967 to emphasize literacy’s role in building a just, peaceful, and sustainable society. This year’s theme, “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” highlights the vital role of linguistic diversity in education and how it fosters global understanding.
Literacy as a Human Right
Literacy is a fundamental human right that opens doors to social justice and committed global citizenship. Beyond personal development, literacy provides access to other human rights and helps build a culture of peace based on respect, non-discrimination, and solidarity.
However, the current landscape is alarming. According to UNESCO, at least one in seven adults over 15 years old (765 million people) lack basic reading and writing skills. Additionally, millions of children and youth struggle to acquire minimal literacy and numeracy competencies, while approximately 250 million children between the ages of 6 and 18 are out of school.
REMAR’s Role in Education and Literacy
Non-governmental organizations like REMAR have played a crucial role in combating illiteracy, especially in situations of extreme poverty, orphanhood, or social exclusion. For over 40 years, REMAR has worked to provide educational opportunities to children and youth in several countries, offering literacy education from an early age.
Their work extends beyond access to basic education, as they also focus on assisting youth who, due to adverse circumstances, had been unable to attend school. Thanks to REMAR, these young people have not only learned to read and write but have also begun to shape a more promising future. The education they receive allows them to break the cycle of poverty and marginalization, offering them a life filled with opportunities.
The Transformative Power of Multilingual Literacy
Multilingual literacy, the central theme of ILD in 2024, is a key tool for building bridges between cultures and communities. By learning in several languages, individuals acquire cognitive and communicative skills, develop greater empathy, and understand people from different cultural backgrounds. This approach is crucial in promoting open and respectful dialogue.
REMAR’s Transformative Impact on At-Risk Children and Youth
For over 40 years, REMAR has witnessed the transformation of thousands of children and youth in social risk and extreme poverty. For many of these children, literacy has not only been a new skill but a genuine opportunity to change their lives. Education has served as a powerful tool that has helped them rediscover their potential, improve their self-esteem, and most importantly, visualize a future different from the one they once expected.
REMAR: A Beacon of Hope for At-Risk Children
REMAR has focused on bringing education to children and youth living in vulnerable conditions, particularly those who, due to their socioeconomic circumstances, would have had limited or no opportunities to access quality education. Many of these children, abandoned or without resources, have found in REMAR a fundamental support system to acquire knowledge and develop skills that not only allow them to continue their studies but also to actively integrate into their communities.
The impact of education on their lives has been profound. Children who once lived in abandonment and marginalization have completed their primary and secondary education. Today, many of them are high school graduates, teachers, accountants, and professionals contributing to society. They have gone from being young people with uncertain futures to individuals capable of making significant contributions to their communities, breaking the cycle of poverty and exclusion that surrounded them.
A Promising Future Thanks to Education and Literacy
What is most inspiring is that many of these young people, after experiencing the transformative power of education in their own lives, choose to live in REMAR as volunteers. By doing so, they support other children facing similar difficulties. This commitment reflects the lasting impact of education and literacy, not only as a tool for personal growth but also as a vehicle for generating positive and sustainable social change.
On International Literacy Day, we give thanks to God for the work that REMAR does and for demonstrating that, regardless of initial circumstances, education has the power to open doors and transform destinies.
Want to Collaborate?
Join REMAR and help transform the lives of more at-risk children! With your support, we can provide education and literacy to more children and youth in need. Collaborate today and be part of the change.
