International Literacy Day (ILD), celebrated on September 8, 2025, highlights the theme: “Promoting Literacy in the Digital Era.” In a world undergoing profound transformation, digitalization is reshaping the way we learn, communicate, and work. While it opens up new opportunities, especially for marginalized groups, it also carries significant risks: the increased exclusion of those already deprived of access to traditional education, threats to privacy, the deepening of inequalities, and environmental impacts linked to uncritical use of technology.
Literacy therefore remains a key skill to make these changes inclusive and meaningful. It no longer refers only to traditional reading and writing, but also encompasses the ability to understand, evaluate, create, and share digital content safely. It is also essential for developing critical thinking and distinguishing reliable information in a digital universe saturated with data.
ILD 2025 aims to celebrate progress achieved at global, regional, national, and local levels, while highlighting policies and initiatives that uphold literacy as a fundamental human right. More than just knowledge, literacy stands as a lever of empowerment and a cornerstone of inclusive, fair, and sustainable societies. Find out more with this concept note.
A strong SNJM commitment to girls’ education
Puente Learning Center-1988-Source : Service central des archives SNJM
This day dedicated to literacy is an opportunity to recall that the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (SNJM) are always involved in education, not only through formal schools, but also through homework accompaniment, learning the language of use for immigrants and support for refugees.
These actions were inspired by the initial desire of the founder of the congregation, Mother Marie-Rose, to educate girls, especially those in the countryside who did not have access to schools or who had to make do with instruction limited to housework.
From the very beginning of the religious teaching congregation, there was a desire to offer a variety of training that went far beyond traditional subjects such as writing, reading, religion and housework in order to allow young girls to develop their talents and enable them to go further in their studies. In Mother Marie-Rose’s mind, educating girls was paramount as they assume an essential role within the family unit where they can help develop their children and ultimately play a role in society.
Visual highlighting the diversity of subjects taught in all the schools where the SNJM was active at the time.
For the record, let us recall this important writing by Mother Véronique-du-Crucifix, Director of Studies at the end of the 19th century, at a time when the inequality of girls with regard to education was not considered a problem in Quebec or in North America.
Mother Véronique-du-Crucifix (Hedwidge Davignon)
“This is a great question: Is it good for women to be educated, or is it not better for them to possess only that knowledge which they cannot do without in their humble and modest role as housewives?
We do not fear to say that this question is offensive to women, and here is what we answer: A young girl must receive a serious, solid, extensive, complete education […]. Nothing should be neglected to adorn her mind and develop her intelligence. […] A solid and complete education is indispensable for the development of women, for their cooperation in the family and in society. […]
We therefore say to young girls: study, cultivate your intelligence unceasingly.”