Every 8 September, the world celebrates International Literacy Day (ILD) to remind us that literacy is not a privilege but a fundamental right that everyone should enjoy. Bible societies have long recognised the importance of literacy programmes, as literacy opens the door to better education, improved living standards and livelihoods, and social empowerment for vulnerable or marginalised communities.
That is why literacy has always been an integral part of the mission of Bible societies worldwide.
What use is the Bible if someone cannot read it? Translating the Bible is not the end of the work, but merely the beginning of a long-term ministry. For people to understand the contents of the Holy Scriptures, they need more than just the Bible in their own language. They also need the ability to read and understand it.
Since the early 1970s, national Bible societies around the world, particularly members of the United Bible Societies (UBS), have helped tens of thousands of people develop basic literacy skills, so that believers can read the Bible for themselves.
These programmes take various forms, tailored to the needs and realities of the local communities served by each Bible Society:
- In Pakistan, literacy classes help local women learn to read in Urdu and improve their reading fluency so that they can read the Bible and share its message with their family members.
- In Guatemala, children learn to read in Maya, the everyday language they use.
- In Mongolia, the ‘Braille Window’ project helps people with visual impairments develop Braille literacy and discover the Bible’s message for themselves.
- In Benin, literacy is combined with sustainable agriculture to help families improve their livelihoods whilst learning to read the Bible in the Aja and Gun languages.
- In Colombia, literacy classes help Wayuu children and adults learn to read in their mother tongue and practise their reading skills so that they can read the Wayuunaiki Bible in its entirety with confidence.
- In Indonesia, in addition to running the New Bible Readers Programme (PBA), which helps many of God’s people in remote areas to achieve basic literacy, LAI also collaborates with churches to run the ‘Tuntas Baca Kabar Baik untuk Anak’ (KBUA), which encourages children aged 9–12 to complete reading the Bible in a year using the ‘Good News for Children’ (KBUA) – a Bible specifically designed and prepared for children, featuring language and illustrations that are easy to understand and appropriate for the developmental stage of children aged 9–12.
In 2026, ILD adopted the theme “Literacy for people, the planet and wellbeing”. As a global event, a number of Bible Societies across the UBS network are commemorating ILD in various ways.
Kenya
The Bible Society of Kenya (BSK) joined forces with several organisations in the area around Ole Narau Primary School in southern Kenya to mark ILD. The event brought together adult learners, programme graduates, community members, partners and other stakeholders to celebrate the transformative power of literacy.
Elizabeth Muriuki, General Secretary of the BSK, attended the event alongside Thomas Tharao, Head of Business and Programme Development at the BSK, and Joseph Irungu, BSK Literacy Programme Coordinator. Ms Muriuki paid tribute to local education advocate Mercy Koki for her efforts in championing literacy within the community over the past 10 years. In recognition of her outstanding contribution, BSK presented her with a Bible.
This forum provided a valuable opportunity for BSK to forge relationships and collaborate with organisations that share a similar vision and are committed to advancing literacy within the community.
Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Bible Society (BBS) marked ILD with processions held in Dinajpur, Mymensingh, Gopalganj, Meherpur and Dhaka. The General Secretary of the BBS, Rev. Ashim K. Baroi, opened the event with a prayer.
In addition, an online programme was held via Zoom, bringing together participants from various locations. This online event featured contributions from Mansueto CitoCasquite, UBS Global Literacy Coordinator, and Cornelius Tudu, SIL International Country Director for Bangladesh, as well as other contributors.
Benin
The Benin Bible Society (BSB) joined forces with several organisations in Dassa-Zoum, in central Benin, to mark ILD. The event brought together participants in adult literacy programmes, community leaders, partner organisations and government representatives to celebrate the transformative power of literacy in national languages.
The General Secretary of BSB, Rev. Dr Fifam Fid le Houssou, attended the event as a representative of private literacy programme providers, alongside the Chief of Staff to the Minister for Secondary Education and the Director of Literacy and Promotion of National Languages (DAPLN). In recognition of the Ministry’s vision, Rev. Dr. Houssou commended the ongoing efforts to strengthen this sector and consolidate literacy achievements across the country. The forum provided a valuable opportunity for BSB to forge relationships and collaborate with the government, technical and financial partners, as well as civil society organisations committed to advancing national language literacy within local communities.
Pakistan
The Pakistan Bible Society (PBS) runs a long-term literacy programme teaching women and young girls to read in Urdu. PBS celebrated International Literacy Day (ILD) alongside the inspiring women participating in their Adult Literacy Centres (see photo).
Social Media
As well as celebrating ILD through various events, the Bible Society also shares information with its supporters via social media and blog posts about why literacy programmes are a vital aspect of its ministry.
Joint Webinar with the United Bible Societies (UBS) and the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL)
As has been the tradition for many years, UBS and SIL jointly organised a webinar to mark ILD whilst equipping those involved in Bible-based literacy programmes to develop them more effectively.
This year’s webinar took place on 15 and 16 September and featured presentations by Boubakar Ouedraogo (Coordinator of the Braille, Literacy and Trauma Recovery Programme at the Burkina Faso Bible Society), Johnny Walker (Creation Conservation Strategist for SIL LEAD Global – ECCS), and Lauren Hall (Ethnoecologist for SIL LEAD Global – ECCS).
The examples given above are just a few of the many literacy programmes organised by various UBS member Bible societies and illustrate how some Bible societies mark International Literacy Day. Behind every programme, there are people who have discovered the power of God’s Word for themselves.
The Bible in a language you can understand is like a wonderful gift. Only when we can read and understand its contents will the Bible lead us to a transformed life. Happy International Literacy Day 2026.
