Words by Abi Scaife
An amazing new device is helping to support the estimated 25% of illiterate people in low-income parts of the United Kingdom.
The Literacy Pen is a device which clips onto a pen or pencil, and the user can speak into a microphone with a digital display showing the word or sentence.
The Literacy Pen has been rolled out with the World Literacy Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that is committed to eradicating illiteracy worldwide.
Andrew Kay, CEO of the World Literacy Foundation, says, “The Literacy Pen is one of the most significant advances in the past 20 years to aid illiterate young people and adults who face adversity and exclusion in day-to-day life. The economic, personal, and social cost of living a life of illiteracy is deeply profound. The Literacy Pen is a highly effective and practical solution to addressing this issue.”
There are an estimated 773 million people in the world who can’t read a single word, and the Literacy Pen is an incredible, low-cost way to combat that.
For more information on the Literacy Pen, you can watch this video on YouTube.
For more information on the World Literacy Foundation and how they are helping to combat illiteracy, you can visit their website.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Their World. This charity aims to help every child have a fulfilling education. Learn more here.
Right to Succeed. This charity supports communities in areas of high deprivation to give children and young people the best start in life. Support them here.
The World Literacy Foundation. This is a global non-profit organization striving to ensure that every child, regardless of geographic location, has the opportunity to acquire literacy skills. Find out more.
This article aligns with the UN SDGs Quality Education and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
