According to UNESCO, one in five adults worldwide lacks basic literacy skills, with two-thirds being women. There are 796 million illiterate adults and 67.4 million children out of school. Low literacy contributes to poverty and poor social development. International Literacy Day aims to raise awareness, while organizations like Room to Read, Stones into Schools, and BB Learning Centre work to establish schools and improve access to education in developing areas. Individuals can help by donating or starting their own literacy campaigns.