UNESCO estimates that there are more than 771 million illiterate adults in the world. It sees adult literacy, as does ProLiteracy, as a basic human right and integral to the solutions for poverty, access to health care, educating children, and human rights abuses.

ProLiteracy Worldwide has its roots in international adult literacy; our work in the global arena sets us apart from others in the adult literacy field. Guided by a set of principles, the International Programs division works with 125 grassroots partners in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America, creating programs that combine native language literacy instruction with projects that address the specific needs of a community, a methodology we call Literacy for Social Change.

International Program staff members document the sights and sounds of their visits to partner programs in Notes from the Field.

Two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults are women. Their inability to read makes them especially vulnerable to poverty, physical and sexual abuse, and loss of human rights. International Programs established its Women in Literacy initiative to address the special needs of women and girls.

ProLiteracy offers internships for work with both global partner programs and in the United States.

International Programs division's annual update details the variety of community projects that people are working on in developing areas all over the world.

Your donation to ProLiteracy Worldwide helps thousands of people struggling daily to improve their lives and the lives of their families.