“The glory of God is intelligence.” This foundational tenet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints drives the extensive Church support of education and literacy among its members and friends.
Literacy goes beyond reading and writing on paper. In the digital era it enables people to access, understand, evaluate, create, communicate and engage with digital content safely and appropriately.
According to UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization), nearly 740 million youth and adults worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, hindering progress and perpetuating poverty. What’s more, four in 10 children aren’t reaching minimum proficiency in reading.
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In Montenegro, the Church has partnered with Defendologija to provide educational materials, shoes, and clothing to Roma children. Church financial support enables Defendolgija teams to provide workshops, school-related classes, and homework support for reading, writing, and arithmetic for children ages three to 18 living in informal Roma settlements.
The Church partners with additional relief organizations such as UNICEF (the United Nations agency for children); Jesuit Relief Service (JRS), Caritas Internationalis, and the Red Cross to support initiatives including:
- Pre-school supplies in Baku, Azerbaijan
- Learning tools for refugees in Adana, Türkiye
- Tools for teaching autistic children and vision-impaired students in Hungary
- Language training in Luxembourg
- School supplies, equipment, and infrastructure in Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kosovo, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, and Uzbekistan.
Church-Sponsored Courses
- EnglishConnect: An online and in-person offering to help participants become proficient in English through a friendly, positive atmosphere. To find a class near you, go to EnglishConnect.org.
- BYU Pathway Online University Programme: This international Church-sponsored school offers certificates, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees in many fields of study. Visit byupathway.edu to learn more.
"I am happy that my dream came true: to learn English. God prepared the way for me. The lessons and topics helped and changed my life."
– Mariana Toska, Albania
Let’s Promote Literacy and Lifelong Learning
As we celebrate Literacy Day, let us remember why literacy and lifelong learning are so essential. As Dallin H. Oaks, one of the Church’s leaders, said in 2009, “Lifelong learning can increase our ability to appreciate and relish the workings and beauty of the world around us.”