The 2009 Global Action Week focused on adult literacy and life-long learning and took place 20th–26th April. The week gained the attention of millions of campaigners of all ages around the world – and over 14 million people took part in reading stories and adding their names to the Big Read. The Big Read brought the support of many authors and big names for education and literacy for all.

A ‘Big Read Story Book’ was produced featuring stories by Paulo Coelho, Alice Walker, Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, Natalie Portman, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Ishmael Beah, and Dakota Blue Richards – all written for Global Action Week. Alongside the well-known authors there were inspirational stories given by children such as Devli Kumari – who was only given a chance to go to school after escaping force labour on a stone quarry, as well as numerous adult learners who had struggled to be given the chance to learn to read and write.

Many of the authors also attended the highlight events to read their stories and lend their voice to the campaign. Queen Rania of Jordan was this year’s Global Action Week Honorary Chair, and led the way in events in Johannesburg and Washington, gaining maximum media coverage for the Big Read.

The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a civil society movement that aims to end exclusion in education. Education is a basic human right, and our mission is to make sure that governments act now to deliver the right of everyone to a free, quality, public education.