global literacy

(Office of Her Majesty- Press Department- Chicago) Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah opened, today, the International Reading Association’s (IRA) 55th Annual Convention by championing global literacy, both as a means to lift the lives of impoverished communities, and as a way to overcome intolerance and mistrust between countries.

During her speech, attended by literacy professionals, teachers, librarians, academics, publishers, students, and book-clubs organizers, Queen Rania told the story of Gcina Mphole, a woman she met in South Africa.

[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg8pHNeiaVQ]]

Thank you, Kathryn.

You know, if people were like books, I think you would be a page turner. Decorated and distinguished at every stage of your career – as a teacher, academic, advocate for literacy, and now IRA’s president –you have inspired people of all ages and abilities, especially those who don’t know the joy of writing their name…or reading the opening sentence in a novel.