Literacy changes lives Literacy develops countries Introduction Feed the Minds believes that a lack of literacy and numeracy is one of the root causes of poverty. Part of the solution to problems in the developing world lies in education. Hungry people need to be fed, but also need to be able to earn their own living. The sick need a cure, but must also be taught to avoid the unhygienic practices that made them ill.
Education can make the difference between temporary alleviation and long-term solution.
In the face of immediate crisis, teaching the basics of literacy will come second to feeding the hungry, housing the homeless and healing the sick. But the effect of illiteracy as a barrier to development needs to be acknowledged if long-term economic and social changes are to be effected. There is growing acknowledgement that illiterates have to accept a life of disadvantage, unable to play a full part in society. Feed the Minds funds literacy programmes in countries across the world to help implement these long-term aims. In order to prevent a relapse into illiteracy, reading has to be encouraged and practised.