Knowledge is power

Monday, November 25th
Blog entry by: Raven Sutton (Morrison YMCA, Leaders Club, Junior at Ardrey Kell HS)

A lot of people underestimate the reading they do everyday and take it for granted. Those people also probably don't realize that somewhere- possibly very close to them -others are struggling to survive because they don't have this simple ability. As some dread going to school others realize that literacy is the key to success and making it out of poverty. 

Team learning about the importance of adult literacy

Luckily, my mother recognized the need for me to do well in school and always said "Knowledge is power" and this experience is making me see that she could not have been more correct. If someone is illiterate they can't read job ads, fill out job applications, or expand their minds with new information and that confines them to the same cycle of poverty.

Being able to read means always being able to communicate which will provide important connections to engage in the world. Here in the Senegal YMCAs the people thirst for knowledge. They are excited and grateful to go to school and be able to soak up all the information possible to make a way for themselves. 

Even in a place where a lot of families know at least 3 languages there are some who are illiterate in their own languages and don't know French or English so they don't get access to opportunity or other necessities like health care. "Illiteracy anywhere leads to poverty everywhere." -M. DeVaul. 

-Raven Sutton aka Rama (my Senegalese name)