Can you Rewrite the Future?
Save the Children, as part of its Rewrite the Future campaign, is inviting all writers to sign up to a joint letter (see below) demanding that world leaders take action to ensure all children have the opportunity to attend school.
Nearly 200 writers from 45 countries have already signed up to the letter, including well-known British writers such as Philip Pullman.
The joint letter will be published in world press in the days leading up to 25 September, when world leaders will meet in New York to discuss how to accelerate action towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
To sign up to the letter please email rachel.maranto@save-children-alliance.org
An open letter to Ban Ki-moon and world leaders
781 million people are illiterate worldwide.
Those 781 million people cannot understand a voting form, or the label on a medicine bottle. They cannot read a newspaper. They are denied the dignity the ability to read and write brings to people’s lives.
As writers, we know the power of words. We believe it is unacceptable for anyone not to have the opportunity to become literate. As a global community we must ensure that all children are guaranteed the opportunity to attend school.
But the truth is that many children are missing out simply because of where they are born. Over half of the world’s out of school children, 37 million, live in countries affected by conflict. War in these countries has destroyed schools, forced teachers to flee, and caused education systems to collapse.
On 25 September 2009 you will meet in New York to discuss the Millennium Development Goals.
We call on you to take action to make the Millennium Development Goal on education a reality – that by 2015 every child is receiving an education, and developing the ability to read and write.
We call on you to ensure those children that are hardest to reach, such as those affected by conflict, are not left behind.
We call on the world’s leaders (who have the responsibility, power and opportunity) to take the urgent action that is needed to make education for all a reality.
back to top