Unlock Literacy Programme Wins Prestigious Award in Ghana

By Andrew Ofosu-Dankyi, Technical Programme Manager for Education at World Vision Ghana

Due to its ongoing impact on children's learning abilities and the transformation of children's education, World Vision Ghana's Unlock Literacy Programme has been recognised with yet another national award. Dubbed the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award for Sustainable Development Goals Partnership, this award recognised Unlock Literacy for its contribution to improving children's learning and education. The programme beats many other programmes in the same category because of its transformational impact on children’s education and learning, making it the winner.

The recognition took place during the Ghana Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Excellence Awards (GHANACEA)’s 10th edition, held in Accra, Ghana, and brought together corporate and non-profit organisations.

For Jacquelinda Attabara, Krachi West District Director of Education, the award was a testament to the programme’s impact on children’s learning and their education. “Through the Unlock Literacy programme, World Vision has kept faith with Ghanaian children, especially those in the remotest communities. World Vision is touching and transforming children’s lives and their education. This is also addressing the root cause of poverty,” he added.

“I am a living testimony of this programme”, said Emmanuella 9. Before the introduction of the Unlock Literacy programme, Emmanuella could hardly read on her own. This, however, changed for the better when she joined a reading club. She has since learned to read fluently and built her confidence to read in class.

Not only was the 9-year-old Emmanuella reading in school, but she was also reading the Bible written in her local dialect both at home and in church. Because of the confidence built through the reading club, Emmanuella successfully hosted the virtual field visit during the 2022 Triennial Conference held in Ghana. “I will recommend reading club many times to anyone,” said Emmanuella.

The Unlock Literacy programme has contributed to improving reading abilities among early graders and reversing the poor reading trend, as captured in the 2015 Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA).

"Our commitment to improving basic and early childhood education among learners has been consistent over the years. This award, I knew, would come because of the impact the programme had on reading and education in general”, said Andrew Ofosu-Dankyi, Technical Programme Manager for Education at World Vision Ghana. “I saw it coming, given the work we have put in to change the narrative of learning poverty in Ghana”, he added.

“Our commitment towards the eradication of poverty is anchored in children, especially the most vulnerable, being able to learn to read and read to learn. This award is a testimony that the Unlock Literacy programme is indeed helping to transform children's learning and their education in general”, said Joshua Baidoo, the Strategy and Integrated Programmes Director at World Vision Ghana.

Nearly 32,000 children have been reached with Unlock Literacy at both the school and community level. Over 750 volunteers are supporting the reading clubs in the communities, and over 400,000 books have been distributed to build the culture of reading among children. All of these were contributing to improving the reading habits and learning abilities of lower graders while transforming teaching and education in the programme areas in general.