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Tanzania’s Children’s Book Project honoured with UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize
Ottawa, July 23, 2007
For the third time, CODE and its partners have been chosen as the recipient of a prestigious UNESCO Literacy Prize for effective contributions to the fight to expand literacy in the developing world.
CODE, Canada’s leading international education and literacy development organization, has had an ongoing partnership with the Children’s Book Project (CBP) since helping to found the CBP in 1991. CODE promotes the idea that lasting change comes from helping people help themselves. By partnering with CBP, CODE supports Tanzanians as they identify and address their own education needs. CODE provides continuous guidance and funding to CBP to help them meet their goals. The Canadian International Development Agency has supported the program since 1991, providing a great deal of credibility within Tanzania.
“CODE’s support has really enabled us to grow as an organization,” says CBP executive director Pili Dumea.
This award recognizes CBP for its outstanding efforts in the production of Kiswahili children’s books and the training of teachers, writers, publishers and illustrators. The announcement was made by the Director-General of UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, on the recommendation of an international jury.
CBP’s greatest achievement is the 100,000 children who, for the first time, get to see illustrated Kiswahili books as they learn to read and write. Thanks to CBP’s support, hundreds of authors are given opportunities to share their stories in a place where local books are limited. Through CBP’s efforts, hundreds of teachers learn how to make reading fun for their students.
To date, CBP has produced more than 200 Kiswahili books, ranging from early childhood level texts to advanced reference books – an impressive feat in a country where many books still come from foreign publishers. CBP has evolved into one of East Africa’s leading literacy organizations, and was the 2006 recipient of Tanzania’s prestigious ZeZe Award.
“Having partnered with CBP since their founding, CODE celebrates this achievement and the impact this organization is having on literacy and education in Tanzania,” says CODE Director Sean Maddox.
Click here to find out more about the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
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