Considering that the Universal Human Rigts Declaration recognizes the right of each person to an education;
Considering that people who do not know how to read and write are among the world's poorest (materially speaking) people;
Considering the role that Rotary International plays in social programs such as the eradication of Polio throughout the world;
Considering Rotary International's Central Council's decision, during their February 2003 meeting, to encourage the clubs and districts to engage in their literacy programs;
Considering that which Rotary International is investing in the struggle against illiteracy and in promoting its CLE method (Concentrated Learning Encounter);
Considering Rotary International's consecration of the month of July as Rotarians' Month of Literacy;
Considering the initiative taken in 1998 by Rotary Clubs of Haiti to create a literacy program, which is called "ROTALPHA" (WOTALFA);
Considering ROTALPHA's (WOTALFA) positive results;
Convinced that Haiti's underdevelopment is directly connected to the fact that the majority of the population is illiterate;
Convinced that Haiti's underdevelopment puts our country at risk of being increasingly marginalised internationally;
Convinced as professionals and people of business and industry that literacy in Haiti is a serious, urgent issue and one which, demands an immediate response;
Convinced that the problems connected to illiteracy cost Haiti enormously in the way of lost productivity;
Recognizing that the Haitian educational system is deteriorating in an alarming way;
Recognising that, using the CLE method, one can learn to read and write in less than a year;
We, Rotarians of the Petion-Ville Rotary Club, engage ourselves toward making our homes and enterprises "100% LITERATE" by year end, 2004, in commemoration of our Nation's Bicentenial. And, we invite Haiti's entire private sector to join us in this engagement.
Petion-Ville, July 22, 2003
DeclarationEngagement an francais
DeklarasyonAngajman an Kreyol