Photo: Aeri Wittenbourgh/February 2014. Students at Sha primary school in the Gasabo District of Kigali, Rwanda. Concern supports efforts at the school to promote girls’ education and works to strengthen the parent-teacher committee. 

Monday the 8th of September is International Literacy Day and international development charity, Concern Worldwide, is joining in celebrations to improve access to good quality education for children in the ares of the world where communities are very poor.

In countries like Niger, only around 15% of women are literate, and in Afghanistan just under a third of adults have basic literacy skills. 

Education is central to reducing poverty in society as a whole, and it is one of the key means by which Concern tackles hunger.

Concern Worldwide's programmes aim to enhance opportunities in education as well as increase the literacy rate, so communities have a better chance of finding their own way out of hunger and poverty.

If you share the belief that everyone is entitled to an education, why not use International Literacy Day as an opportunity to purchase one of their gifts which will specifically go towards improving a child’s education?

By giving a school pack for £22 you can help a child overcome one of the barriers to attending school. These great packs provide children with basic essentials such as a school uniform, books and bag.

With so many other educational gifts available at the Concern Worldwide gift shop you know that whatever you decide to buy, you’ll helping with the empowerment of people to make themselve more secure now and in the future.