Online Reporter
SCHOOGIRL Blessful Zvinzveku has been named the 2026 Youth Literacy Ambassador for the region, a role created to amplify the importance of literacy and inspire community action.
Blessful, a student at the Dominican Convent High School, will take on community outreach projects, raise funds for literacy initiatives, and advocate for improving reading outcomes across the region.
They hope to mobilise peers and community members to take action on literacy. Today, 770 million people globally cannot read a single word, and another two billion struggle to read a sentence.
In low-income households, an average of 72% of children face reading difficulties.
Illiteracy has long-term social and economic impacts, but through collective action and programs like the Youth Ambassador Programme, the World Literacy Foundation is working to reverse these trends.
As a Youth Ambassador, Blessful will develop leadership skills and shine a spotlight on literacy issues in their community and beyond.
Annabelle, aged 23, coordinator of the World Literacy Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Programme, says the youth-led campaign “empowers young people with lived experience to become leaders in addressing rising illiteracy rates.”
“Growing numbers of children and young people are struggling to read, often choosing streaming platforms over books.
“The greatest need is among children in low-income communities, many of whom do not own a single book.”
Blessful will join 900 young people aged 16-25 from 101 countries over the next three months, working together locally and globally.
Annabelle added:
“Strong reading skills give every child the foundation for future learning, confidence, and opportunity.
“Reading supports wellbeing, communication, and long-term success, and is one of the most powerful tools for breaking cycles of disadvantage.
“When I started reading, it sparked my imagination and curiosity about the world.
“That first spark quickly grew into a hunger to learn more, explore more, and read more.” — worldliteracyfoundation.org
