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Editors note: Today’s “Humanitarian Friday”  post on literacy and the Room to Read program were inspired by a recommendation from the Blog Mastermind, Yaro Starak.

This morning I was unhurriedly planting some new flowers around my house here in the Caribbean and I was thinking that personal freedom is pretty amazing!

And then I realized, everything I have I owe to literacy. That’s right. If you are reading this you probably do too. I don’t care if you are a problogger, work in a corporate office, or deliver pizza. Basic literacy and education are the keys to success because if you can’t read it is very difficult to effect a positive change in your life, or the lives of others.

If I couldn’t read or add simple numbers I would be nowhere. For all global citizens, being literate is largely dependant upon where people are born.

According to UNESCO, “The spread of basic cognitive skills such as literacy and numeracy is key to individual and societal development. With literacy comes a certain responsibility to help those who might be seeking to learn to read and get educated and that is where Room to Read comes in.”

Room to Read believes, “World Change Starts With Educated Children.”

From the Room to Read website:

John Wood, Founder and CEO, launched Room to Read after a trek through Nepal. He visited several local schools and was amazed by the warmth and enthusiasm of the students and teachers, but also saddened by the shocking lack of resources. Driven to help, John quit his senior executive position with Microsoft and built a global team to work with rural villages to build sustainable solutions to their educational challenges.

Founding Room to Read, John wove proven corporate business practices with his inspiring vision to provide educational access to 10 million children in the developing world.

If you would like to help Room to Read’s global initiative please check out their “Get Involved” page and make a commitment to assist.

See you Monday – I have a GREAT marketing post planned!