Toronto Lawyer Leads Effort to Bring the Joy of Reading to Tanzanian Children

Literacy is a gateway that can open the door to a world of opportunities or just as quickly shut it tight. Every day, the proverbial door can be heard slamming shut for many millions of children in low and middle-income countries worldwide. A startling 53 percent of children in the global south cannot read proficiently by age ten—a fact characterized by many as a “global learning crisis” (World Bank, 2019).

As avid readers ourselves, we can all appreciate that foundational literacy is a prerequisite for achievement across the curriculum and the development of higher-order cognitive skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving. There is simply no leapfrogging over foundational literacy in our efforts to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4), which includes a target of 12 years of quality schooling for all children. If students don’t gain basic literacy skills, they drop out or, at best, finish their primary school education as illiterates.

Equipping children with foundational literacy skills gives them the needed leg up to succeed and stay in school and to look forward to healthy, productive lives for themselves and their families. This is precisely what Toronto-based lawyer Christopher Bredt has passionately championed for 34 years since first becoming involved with the Canadian charity CODE. Having raised over two million dollars for the cause and having cast his net of inspiration widely, Chris is a shining example of the good that can be achieved through committed volunteer service.

This July, Chris will lead his fifth and final “Summit for Literacy” to the top of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, towering 19,354 feet above sea level. His team of 14 climbers is on a mission to kick-start CODE’s new children’s literacy program in Tanzania through their personal fundraising efforts…[read more]

 

https://www.globalheroes.com/literacy-equality-for-tanzanian-children