Education & literacy: Making lives better,
one book at a time
When you buy a book from Oxfam – whether it’s from one of our 700+ shops, 130 specialist bookshops or our online shop – you’re not only getting a great read, you’re helping people to overcome poverty.
The money we raise goes towards Oxfam’s work in the UK and around the world. We believe everybody has the right to a free, good-quality education. This is crucial for people to develop the skills they need to make positive changes in people’s lives (like get jobs, read medicine labels and write letters to family and friends), and finally break free from poverty.
Yet 72 million children are out of school (over two-thirds are girls) and 771 million adults worldwide are illiterate (64 per cent are women). Two million new teachers are needed today to provide kids with a decent education – and 15 million will be needed by 2015 to achieve education for all.
We’re doing all we can to help every child get a basic education – from supporting schools and communities worldwide to campaigning for funds and better policies from governments – and we’re glad you’re on the same page as us.
Buying from the Oxfam Unwrapped gift range can also open a new chapter for children in countries where text books, teaching resources and training, and school facilities are scarce.
You can buy eight school books, teach a teacher, provide a school desk and chair, stock a library, build a classroom and assist girls to get a head start at school. So far, through Unwrapped, we have developed education projects in countries such as Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Liberia and Vietnam. With your help, we can set up more.
