Governor's Message

Posted on Sep 01, 2025

Breaking Barriers

Why Basic Education and Literacy Matter to the Communities We Serve

In September, Rotary highlights the importance of Basic Education and Literacy, reminding us that the ability to read, write, and learn is not just a skill but a fundamental human right. Yet across the globe, and even here at home, millions of people remain vunerable to being left behind. Rotary reports a staggering statistic: more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate, which constitutes about 17 percent of the world's adult population. the United Nations educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) reported in 2023 that “3 million children are struggling with minimum levels of proficiency in reading, writing, and numeracy, while some 250 million children between the ages of 6-18 years are out of school.” Literacy and education are more than academic goals; they are transformative skills that can lift people out of poverty and allow lives and families to thrive.

Breaking the barriers to this empowering knowledge is life changing. A child who can read has the chance to dream bigger, achieve more, and open doors for their family through skills acquired from access to education. A parent who learns a new language can find better work and provide stability for their household.

When we focus on the vulnerable, we help break the cycles of poverty, inequality, and exclusion that hold people back. Education also creates generational change: when parents are educated, their children are more likely to succeed. While lack of access to education can affect anyone, some marginalized groups face the greatest barriers. For example, UNESCO (2023) reports that girls and women are disproportionately excluded from classrooms due to cultural expectations, early marriage, or family responsibilities. Educating women has a powerful ripple effect, yet too many are denied this opportunity. “Women accounted for 63% of 754 million non-literate youth and adults, a proportion that has remained unchanged over recent decades.” Children living in poverty often leave school early to support their families, sacrificing their future for the survival of their household.

Where you live matters. Many remote and rural communities struggle with under-resourced schools and a shortage of teachers living in those communities. If you are a child with diverse abilities or diverse challenges, the barriers compound due to stigma or lack of inclusive resources. If you are a new immigrant, refugee, or displaced person, language is not the only hurdle as you may also have had your schooling disrupted by conflict, disaster, or displacement, leaving gaps that can last for years.

New immigrants and their families, particularly those with limited financial means, face unique struggles. For many, English is not their first language. Parents often juggle multiple jobs and settlement responsibilities, leaving little time for their own education. They may put their children’s schooling first while silently struggling with forms, job applications, or even basic communication. Children, meanwhile, must adapt to new languages, unfamiliar school systems, and cultural differences all while helping their families navigate life in a new country. I know this from personal experience: my mother, who survived two wars, one in Spain and the Second World War in France, was denied access to basic education as a child,  and struggled to learn English in a new country. As her English improved, she was able to manage a small business without constant help from others. The business thrived and made a positive contribution to the community by also providing food security to vulnerable citizens as she sought to give back to a country that welcomed our family. However, she still lives with the daily challenges of illiteracy, struggling to read medical instructions or participate fully in life as a vibrant 94-year-old senior.

I grew up on the Sunshine Coast, BC in 1958. In the late 1950’s my family lived for a time in a Residential School. From experience growing up in an area with a large Indigenous population, it was clear that Indigenous people were treated differently. Even today, Indigenous communities face their own challenges, as native languages and cultures have historically been dismantled in favor of mainstream ones. In Canada, only in recent years, has greater emphasis been placed on encouraging Indigenous language sharing, as knowledge and language keepers, the Indigenous Elders, are lost to age and death, leaving many languages on the brink of extinction. The United States faces similar issues, with only about 40 percent of Indigenous languages still in use.

On 30 September 2025, Canada observes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The focus of the day is to reflect on the atrocities committed against Indigenous peoples at residential schools, learn from past mistakes, and commit to doing better. The damage done decades ago continues to reverberate in communities across the country. In the USA, Indigenous Peoples’ Day on 13 October 2025, honors the culture, history, and struggles experienced throughout American history, fostering better understanding as a force for unity. Ultimately, fostering the rebirth of indigenous languages is creating a positive lift for Indigenous communities across Canada and the USA, but efforts could be vastly enhanced.

Rotary has an important role in removing barriers for marginalized groups and a profound role in empowering women, children, and families through access to basic education and literacy. Below are just a few of the initiatives happening around Rotary District 5050 that open doors for future generations:

  • The Rotary Club of North Delta, led by Co-Presidents Lana Hart and Neil Inglis have launched a “Magic Pencil” 50/50 draw fundraiser, with proceeds supporting vulnerable elementary school children with school supplies and clothing to reduce inequities in the communities they serve.
  • The Rotary Club of Chilliwack Mt. Cheam, led by President Kim Ashley, hopes to improve the lives of kindergarten to Grade 10 students in Nepal by providing vital learning resources needed after their school was destroyed by floods and is now being rebuilt.
  • The Rotary Club of White Rock, led by President Kristina Eng, has held an annual community Rotary book sale for many decades, offering delicately used books, with proceeds supporting community programs.  At this moment their warehouse and sorting facility used for the last 25 years, The Rotary Fieldhouse, is at risk as negotiations to use the warehousing space is in jeopardy.
  • The Rotary Club of Chilliwack, led by President Dr. Ralph Jones, has held an annual community Rotary book sale since 1984, with proceeds benefitting the community. 
  • The Rotary Club of South Surrey, under the leadership of President Rick Singh, is working to fund a much-needed project at the Happy Home Children’s Centre in rural Cambodia. The project aims to improve classrooms, deliver post project vocational training in carpentry, bicycle repair, and hairdressing, upgrade sanitation, and create sustainable food sources for orphaned and at-risk youth.
  • Assistant Governor Stephanie Hooper reports that there is amazing work being undertaken by clubs in her area: The Rotary Club of Burlington Mid-Day led by President Kim Welling is continuing efforts on their annual Literacy Project providing books to all 2nd graders in the Burlington-Edison School District.  The club also provides $15,000 in youth scholarships;  The Rotary Club of Skagit, led by President Paul Pickering, are working with a group of teachers on an exchange program and will be sending $5000 in international funding to buy school supplies for students in Mexico. 
  • The Rotary Club of Mount Vernon, led by Past District Governor and current President David Lukov, distributes dictionaries each year to elementary school students in the School District. Several members also volunteer for literacy programs with Children of the Valley which is an afterschool program.
  • The Rotary Club of Burlington, led by Chris Omdal  - $15,000 scholarships for high school students. Plus, an after-school enrichment program of club members teaching chess and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities at the three local elementary schools. The club supports an annual sponsorship during the Skagit Kids Read week with the Children's Museum and donates the chosen book to the classrooms at the elementary school relevant to the age level of the book.
  • The Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club, led by Lin Tucker  - $50,000 scholarships for high school students. $2000 of books distributed to low-income families at the reading & resources event sponsored by the Sedro-Woolley School District. The Club also sponsors books for libraries.

Is your Club participating in impactful projects that address serious needs which include basic education and literacy? Share your project and stories with the Peace Arch Journal, through social media, along with other Rotary Clubs! In Rotary, we don’t just imagine great ideas, we bring them to life in ways that strengthen our communities and inspire lasting change. This is the power of Rotary in action: a win for the community we serve, a win for the Rotarians who lead with purpose, and a win for Rotary as a force for good in the world.

Are you taking advantage of District and Global Grants, and connecting with other Rotary clubs or partners to help make your project a reality? If not, I urge you to connect with the Rotary District 5050 Foundation team to learn more about resources available:

Rotary’s efforts both at home and abroad commit to ensuring that the most vulnerable are not left behind. By addressing the barriers that prevent access to education and literacy, Rotary not only changes individual lives but also strengthens families and communities for generations to come. When the most vulnerable are given the chance to learn, they are also given the chance to thrive.

Let’s recommit ourselves to supporting basic education and literacy.  We can continue to build a world where every person, regardless of background, gender, ability, or circumstance, could  have the opportunity to read, learn, and succeed. 

Where will your ideas take you?

With Gratitude,