South Africa has reason to celebrate.
Nal’ibali’s recognition as the 2026 Library of Congress International Literacy Prize winner is a powerful moment for the country’s literacy movement, and a reminder of the transformative force of storytelling.
This honour, accompanied by a $50,000 award, places Nal’ibali among the world’s leading literacy innovators. It acknowledges the organisation’s pioneering work in mother‑tongue storytelling, community reading clubs, and grassroots mobilisation that reaches millions of children each year.
It also affirms a growing body of global evidence: children learn best when stories reflect their languages, cultures and lived experiences. International literacy studies from PIRLS to UNESCO consistently show that storytelling strengthens vocabulary, comprehension, imagination, empathy and problem‑solving.
Nal’ibali’s multi‑modal model, combining print, radio, digital platforms and community reading clubs, ensures that children encounter stories everywhere: at home, at school, in libraries and in community spaces.
The award also shines a light on the organisation’s network of FUNda Leaders, volunteers, caregivers and storytellers who bring stories to life across all nine provinces.
Their work demonstrates that literacy is not built only in classrooms; it is built in living rooms, playgrounds, taxi ranks and community halls.
Executive Director Lorato Trok notes, these champions “continue to bring the joy and power of stories to children,” anchoring Nal’ibali’s impact in community ownership.
By expanding mother‑tongue reading materials and strengthening volunteer training, Nal’ibali is addressing one of the most persistent barriers to literacy in multilingual societies. Storytelling in home languages boosts confidence, deepens understanding, preserves cultural identity and accelerates reading development — a global imperative that South Africa is now leading.
As the country marks Literacy Month, Nal’ibali’s achievement is both a celebration and a call to action. The organisation is inviting new partners, donors and volunteers to join a movement that has grown from a campaign into a national force for change.
At a time when South Africa faces a severe reading crisis, this global honour offers hope. It shows what is possible when a nation invests in stories — the stories that shape identity, spark imagination and open doors to opportunity.
The Library of Congress Literacy Awards are intended to draw public attention to the importance of literacy, and the need to promote literacy and encourage reading.
Since 2013, the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program has awarded more than $4.8 million in prizes to more than 240 institutions in 42 countries. By recognizing current achievements, the awards seek to enable any organization or program that does not operate on a for-profit basis to strengthen its involvement in literacy and reading promotion and to encourage collaboration with like-minded organizations.
Nal’ibali’s triumph is a triumph for South Africa. And it is a reminder that the path to literacy begins with a story.
©Higher Education Media Services.