ONE voice: Nelson Mandela, Natalie Portman, and you

Listen up CGG readers—the ONE campaign is calling out for writers from every walk of life to participate in a collaborative project with public figures and common citizenry alike. "The Big Read" will be a compilation of narratives about personal thoughts on education. The book itself will then be used as a literary tool to teach people in developing nations. Can you see your writing featured in a book alongside Nelson Mandela or Natalie Portman? Well, now is your chance.

Oh, and did we mention that Obama will get a copy? In June, Bono's organization ONE and the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) plans to present "The Big Read" to President Barack Obama. Can you imagine the first family flipping through and reading your writing!?

"The Big Read" book will hopefully encourage our fearless leader to keep his promise to ensure all people in developing countries have access to basic education through a U.S. contribution of $2 billion to a Global Fund for Education. As of right now, one of the fundamental aspects to the Millennium Development Goals—for universal literacy and education—is far from being accomplished as 1 in every 4 women in the world AND 75 million children are illiterate.

Contributors of all groups are welcome as the book promises to offer some essays from children and adults who have struggled to gain an education “and local heroes who have helped make education possible for others.” The book will be distributed over 100 countries and it will be used as a tool for promoting literacy and education.

So you want something to do alongside CGG favs like Natalie Portman? Contribute! The deadline for submissions is May 1. Although many forms of stories appear in the book, ONE are looking for a personal narrative telling YOUR story: what does education mean to you? Why is it important to you that children in other countries receive a basic education? Comment below and send in your thoughts to the One Campaign!