CODE announces Burt Award for African Literature

September 5, 2008

See press kit.

CODE ANNOUNCES CREATION OF FIRST EVER YOUTH WRITERS PRIZE FOR TANZANIA – $21,000 Burt Award for African Literature to be launched in Ottawa Monday Sept 8, International Literacy Day.

 Ottawa, Sept 5, 2008 –

The Burt Award for African Literature, made possible through CODE by the generous $1M contribution of Torontonian philanthropist Bill Burt, consists of three annual cash prizes worth $21,000 and publishing contracts for winning submissions.

"The Burt Award offers that extra incentive for authors to write good books that instill a love of reading in young people," says Knowlton Nash, CODE’s Advisory Council Chair.

Like many African countries, Tanzania has made significant progress towards achieving universal primary education. Thus, the number of Tanzanian students moving from primary to secondary school, where the language of instruction changes from Kiswahili to English, has tripled since 2000.

"More than ever before there is a need for Canada to step up and help create culturally relevant, quality English books for youth," says CODE’s Executive Director, Scott Walter.

In the award’s inaugural year the competition will be held in Tanzania, and will be co-managed by CODE and its UNESCO award-winning Tanzanian partner, the Children’s Book Project. In future years the award will expand across Africa, on a country by country basis.

"I speak for all Tanzanians when I say that this is a truly valuable contribution to education in our country," says Tanzanian High Commissioner Peter Kallaghe.

CODE, in collaboration with the Tanzanian High Commission, is announcing the Burt Award for African Literature Monday Sept 8 at Library and Archives Canada, Room A, at 6:30pm. Hosted by CBC’s Adrian Harewood. Media welcome.

ABOUT CODE:

At CODE we believe that if a child can learn to read and write, that child can learn to do anything. For 50 years CODE has been working with local organizations to empower children to learn by supporting libraries and teacher training as well as national and local book publishing in Africa and the Caribbean.

For interviews or more information contact Jana McDade, Communications Manager, at 1.800.661.2633 ext 252, jmcdade@codecan.org.