International Literacy day 2021

Can you imagine that there are over 773 million young people and adults globally who cannot read and write, with 250 million children failing to acquire basic literacy skills. There are more women who cannot read than men, and women are more often left behind in the digital environment, which is where much learning is now taking place. This situation is expected to worsen, as COVID-19 school disruptions have created so many more learning challenges. In many of the countries we are working in, schools have not re-opened.

Illiteracy figures are startling and this week we decided as a team to reflect on what we have managed to achieve through working together with our partners despite the challenges of Covid. We know we must keep up our commitment moving forward and encourage educators to keep working towards every child and adult everywhere accessing the opportunity of learning to read and write.

When we talk about digital learning, we often imagine everyone on-line. That is just not possible for all students and educators in countries such as Haiti, Jamaica, Sierra Leone and The Gambia for example. Here wi-fi connections are not accessible or affordable, especially in the rural areas and electricity every day is not a given.

We have had to work differently to support learning to continue in some places and we have achieved that by listening to our partners and working flexibly with them. Often it is not with the provision of new technology but by the use of solar radios and Positive Periods training to enable students to learn.

By supporting learning in mother tongue languages as we are doing with our partner Alfa Literacy, in Limonade, Haiti. Alfa is a community organization that provides people with a second chance to obtain a quality, officially-recognized, and comprehensive education to people with low or no literacy skills, in particular women and their communities.

 

Or by providing books in local languages that are contextual; supporting students and educators to share and write their own stories.

 ๏ปฟ

On the digital front we have been hosting a programme “Myths and Stories” consisting of 4 weekly webinars which have allowed students from Haiti, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and the United Kingdom to share stories online for the first time together, creating connection and understanding of themselves and others.

Piloting digital classrooms in The Gambia and Sierra Leone. The digital classroom allows the provision of inclusive programming for students and this complements book lending through the learning resource centre libraries.

 

https://www.stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk/improving-the-quality-and-access-to-education-in-the-gambia

 ๏ปฟ

Supporting literacy learning is not only about reading and writing, there are many ways you can support access to learning. Below are just some of the ways you can support access to education for all children everywhere.

The Steve Sinnott Foundation • September 10, 2021

Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders - Competition 2025

By Ann Beatty • August 15, 2025
Mike Fleetham of Thinking Classroom has written a book " Headlines: Inspiration, humour and advice for school leaders ". A collection of original ideas, advice from professionals, quotes, and tips to support and inspire all leaders. Perfect for new and established leaders working in education, especially headteachers. "Being a headteacher is like looking both ways before you cross the road, and then getting hit by an aeroplane." To Enter the Competition To win a copy of Headlines please share your inspiring education or life lesson in no more than 600 words. The winning article will also be published in our next edition of Engage. Send your words of inspiration to admin@stevesinnottfoundation.org.uk ๐Ÿ“… Deadline: 5th September 2025โ  Stuck on Ideas? Here are some questions and prompts to get you started! What’s the one lesson school didn’t teach you, but life did? Think of a moment that changed your path, what happened? What piece of advice has helped you grow the most? When did a challenge turn into an opportunity for you? What story from your life would inspire someone on the other side of the world? What’s the life lesson that unlocked your next chapter? โ  Your words could uplift, empower and be seen by many. Let your story inspire the world! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’กโ  Good luck and we cant wait to read all the entries!

UNESCO ASPnet Schools Coventry

By Ann Beatty • July 8, 2025
This week our CEO Ann and Jude (SSF Ambassador) visited schools in Coventry and heard about the wonderful work that students are doing to foster peace and community connection, as part of Coventry Arts Week. We visited Lyng Hall school in the morning and met with Ms Hagan and four of the schools UNESCO ASPnet ambassadors. They told us all about their recent project. The students took their art and poetry to the 80th Anniversary symposium in Ypres and Dunkirk. They shared with us some of the poetry they had written together with the students on the field trip and some of their own poems too. They also shared their future plans for working with their local primary school on peace and community. We also had the privilege of joining Ms Hagans class where they were looking at Caliban’s tale. Here is one of the students work

A Get Moving Fundraiser - Ann's 60 Miles Walk

By Ann Beatty • June 30, 2025
For my birthday this year I had the honour to walk 60 miles (yes it was a big 0 birthday) over 3 days to support the essential work of the Steve Sinnott Foundation of which I am CEO. Education in its many forms is essential for all of us to thrive and make the most of life's opportunities. The Foundation works to ensure that as many children and adults as possible across the globe can access the human right of education. The plan was to walk with friends and supporters who I hoped would keep me smiling along the way and it felt like a good way to make use of the Foundation’s “Get Moving” campaign. Here's how my Get Moving Fundraiser went on the first day. The 13th June I started my walk in London by walking from Barnet to west Hampstead and visiting my sister at her shop at Tree of Life where I got served a nice iced coffee to keep me going.