"We believe that literacy is at the core of having the opportunity for a better life, and that it is never too late for an adult to learn to read and write. We believe that well-trained and dedicated volunteers can successfully teach adults to read and write. We believe that parents are their children's first and best teachers, and that family support can help any parent, regardless of literacy level, help their child succeed. We believe that greater literacy builds stronger families and communities"

 

Hawaii Literacy began in 1971 when Harry Chun-Hoon and Myrtle Lee received training in the Laubach method contacted Laubach Literacy Action in Syracuse, New York for help in organizing a volunteer tutoring program in Hawaii. The first workshop was presented by a tutor trainer from New York. The newly-trained tutors began tutoring in the Kalihi area. 

 

There is now an Adult Literacy program on Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Their Adult Literacy program provides assistance to more than 160 students at any given time. The Family Literacy Library program began in 1990 and provides free library and after-school educational services to families in two housing projects in the Kalihi area, along with an ELL program for adult residents. The Bookmobile program offers books, literacy-related activities, and computer use to 13 sites on the Waianae Coast with two bookmobiles on Oahu and a one on Hawai’i island. Their Drop-in Center in Honolulu is there for adult students who have various literacy needs or are seeking ELL instruction. Hawaii Literacy is seeking to expand its services to people on all of the islands, as our emphasis is on working with the under-served adult population.

 

BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY is one of rotary's seven areas of focus. We know that basic education and literacy are essential for reducing poverty, improving health, encouraging community and economic development, and promoting peace.

More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population. Rotary's goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.

Give Aloha - Donate to HRYF In September