Unlock Literacy in Urban Context: Adaptation, Lessons and Implications

Unlock Literacy (UL) has been implemented across diverse urban settings—from dense informal settlements and border migration zones to more stable neighbourhoods. While the core model focuses on improving children’s foundational reading skills, teams adapted it to navigate the governance complexity, socioeconomic diversity and spatial inequality characteristics of urban 
systems. 

World Vision recently developed a case study Unlock Literacy to strengthen children’s reading skills in complex and fragile urban environments, from dense informal settlements to migration-affected neighbourhoods, through approaches that improve access, safety, and relevance.

World Vision will be hosting an event on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 ⁠at 18:45 (UTC+5:45 (check your time zone here) to highlight key lessons and implications for strengthening children’s learning in cities.