People & Lifestyle
Ghana’s ‘Libraries Without Walls’ wins 2024 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize
Literacy is a cornerstone of human empowerment, unlocking access to other fundamental rights and freedoms. This year, International Literacy Day spotlights the theme ‘Promoting multilingual education: Literacy for mutual understanding and peace.’ The ‘Libraries Without Walls’ programme of the Foundation for Educational Equity and Development (FEED) has been honoured with the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, in recognition of its innovative approach to promoting literacy across the country.
Since 2017, this initiative has reached over 3,000 children annually through mobile libraries and digital tools, promoting literacy and digital skills while championing the importance of local languages. Between 2021 and 2023, it served over 12,000 learners, with 75% being girls and young women. To further advance literacy in Ghana, FEED is now developing a multilingual online platform.
The initiative began with a simple question: how can you encourage children to read in communities with trees but no libraries? Paul Mensah Amanor, Founder and CEO of FEED, found a creative solution by hanging baskets of books from trees. This innovative approach sparked children’s curiosity and fostered a love for reading. The programme was inspired by Precious, a young girl who could not read or write when Paul first met her. Within six months of joining the after-school programme he created, Precious could read, write, and participate confidently in class. Encouraged by her progress, Paul expanded the initiative to reach more children throughout Ghana. Today, ‘Libraries Without Walls’ continues to strengthen literacy and aims to inspire one million readers in the long term.
Emphasizing multilingual education and peacebuilding
‘Libraries Without Walls’ prioritizes multilingual education to foster literacy, mutual understanding, and peace. The programme recruits culturally diverse volunteers who conduct literacy sessions in local languages such as Dangme, Asante Twi, Ewe, Hausa, and Fante, making learning accessible and relatable for children. Books in Ghanaian languages with local characters help to bolster this approach, while on-site volunteers interpret English texts for those without formal education. The programme also develops culturally relevant materials, trains bilingual volunteers, and collaborates with over 35 communities to ensure inclusivity.
To address the challenges of multilingual education, the programme translates books into local languages, employs visual aids, and creates language clubs. It has established 32 reading spots across Ghana where children engage with books in their native language and hosts bilingual storytime sessions. Cultural festivals, language exchanges, and literacy competitions also promote cross-cultural understanding and language skills.
Through partnerships with local leaders and organizations, ‘Libraries Without Walls’ integrates multilingual literacy into community programmes, ensuring that its initiatives are both effective and culturally relevant. In pursuit of this goal, the programme is developing ‘WOMI’, an app offering books in local languages, accessible online and offline.
The programme also plays a vital role in peacebuilding by fostering cross-cultural collaboration through multilingual materials and activities. Intergenerational projects like the Community Literacy Caravan bring together people of all ages for multilingual reading and storytelling, fostering mutual respect and understanding. By amplifying the voices of marginalized communities, particularly young girls, the programme promotes social inclusion and justice.
Peace education is integrated into literacy programmes, teaching conflict resolution and peacebuilding skills, while creating safe spaces for discussion and critical thinking. Community involvement in programme development fosters collective responsibility for peace, and by addressing social and economic inequalities through education, ‘Libraries Without Walls’ helps tackle the root causes of conflict, contributing to lasting peace in Ghana.
In this spirit, the Foundation for Educational Equity and Development has a message for children and youth: “Your voice matters! Literacy is the key to unlocking your dreams and potential. Keep reading, learning, and exploring—you are the future leaders and change-makers of the world. Continue innovating and learning and remember to give back. When you do, give the gift that keeps on giving: literacy!”
Source: UNESCO
