How UNESCO Literacy Prizes laureates are advancing women's education

Since being awarded the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy in 2011, the Alpha Ujuvi Collective from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been offering literacy courses and professional training to young Congolese girls and women who are victims of sexual violence. These skills are conducive to lead them to income-generating activities to recover from the trauma and stigma. Talitha Khoum, a centre dedicated to educating young girls, was also established by the Collective. Over 500 orphaned, displaced, and underprivileged girls have benefitted from its academic and social reintegration programmes. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Collective is dedicated to expanding its reach to more young girls and women. Mr Patrick N. Bunzigiye, Director in charge of communication and relations with partners of the Collective indicates “Education is internationally recognized as the most powerful tool for the advancement of women and girls and the protection of their rights. Investing in their education can transform, and even save lives: the lives of women and girls, but also those of their families and communities. It is one of the most effective ways to achieve positive and lasting change for everyone around the world.” 

Jan Shikshan Sansthan Malappuram (JSS) from India, recipient of the 2016 UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, has been working to empowering women with capacities to break free from the chains of dependency. It does not only offer financial assistance, but also provides the women with a lifeline and help them find confidence and determination so that they can embark on a journey of self-discovery and skills development. Mr Ummer Koya, Director of JSS, said: “Literacy learning opens doors to girls and women and equipping them with tools to express themselves, pursue education, engage in critical thinking and access better employment opportunities”. Additionally, literacy often relates with improvement of health outcomes, further improving girls’ overall well-being. He sent a message to encourages girls and women, “Women can craft their tale of triumph through dedicated investment and unwavering hard work. “Trust yourself and do your best!”

We Love Reading (WLR) Programme from Jordan, 2017 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize winner, uses community-based model to cultivate a love of reading among children fostering educational resilience. It is driven by female WLR volunteers who lead the reading aloud sessions in their neighbourhoods by using books that are age-appropriate, attractive, and neutral content-wise in local languages. These volunteers have full agency to make the programme fit the local context and therefore are agile in their responses to challenges, which makes WLR successful and sustainable. Globally implemented in 69 countries, it has trained more than 8,000 women and benefited more than half a million children. Female ambassadors of WLR are connected by a virtual community where they can share resources, support, and encourage each other. Ms Rana Dajani, the Founder and Director of WLR, delivered her message of encouragement: “Believe in yourself, trust yourself if you can dream it. Then it is possible. Be the butterfly of change.”

The Association of Literacy Teachers Who Use Information and Communications Technology (NGO GA-TIC) from Côte d’Ivoire, the 2021 Laureate of the UNESCO Confucius Prize for Literacy, initiated awareness and training projects targeting youth and adults who lack basic literacy skills in the country. With financial and civic empowerment granted to learners, these programmes made it possible to strengthen functional digital literacy capacities of learners through distance education. Thousands of women were able to resume online classes to become familiar with digital tools and greatly, which contributed to reducing the digital divide. To women who have not had the chance to to receive an education, Mr Emmanuel Krou N’Guessan, President of the NGO GA-TIC said, “I assure you that it is not too late. You have the right to education. Digital literacy is a quick solution to your problem. Don’t capitalize your efforts solely on your search for money. Lifelong learning must be your credo.”