This Mother’s Day, MAMA is celebrating the crucial role that mothers play around the world in helping their children learn to read and write. There is a growing appreciation of the link between a mother’s education and that of her child. In fact, research funded by the National Institutes of Health has identified that a mother’s reading skill is the greatest determinant on her children’s future academic success, outweighing other factors such as environment and family income.

We all have our own memories of our favourite bedtime stories. Our windows to the world were opened through the unparalleled importance of literacy – the power to read and write.

Sadly, 15% of the world’s population is illiterate. That’s 757,000,000 people who have a limited ability to obtain and understand essential information, who, for example, can’t understand instructions on a medicine bottle. That’s a scary thought.

MAMA is working hard with partners across the globe to help empower children through improved access to education. If you’re wondering how best to celebrate Mother’s Day, how about supporting MAMA’s vision where every child has access to education and the power to grow, develop and excel.

#HappyMAMADay!