1/7/2005
Groups In Sudan, Spain And Mozambique Win UNESCO Literacy Prizes

A UNESCO appointed international jury has selected a Sudanese group helping displaced women to improve family welfare; a Spanish movement assisting African and eastern European immigrants; and a Mozambican literacy programme for this year's United Nations literacy prizes. The laureates were selected from among 45 nominations. The prizes are awarded annually in recognition of particularly effective contributions to the fight against illiteracy, one of UNESCO’s priorities. They call attention to the efforts of thousands of men and women who devote themselves year after year to advancing the cause of literacy for all.

The two $15,000 King Sejong Literacy Prizes went to the AULA Cultural Association of Spain and GOAL, a humanitarian organization working in Sudan. The $15,000 UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize went to the Associação PROGRESSO, a non-governmental organization working for community development in Mozambique.

AULA, a neighbourhood movement in Palma de Mallorca, was chosen for the way its education activities have been tailored to suit a range of social groups, particularly women, immigrants from Africa and south and east Europe, and young people without school qualifications or in danger of social exclusion.

GOAL Sudan was selected for its Women’s Literacy Programme in Displaced Communities in Sudan. The programme has helped thousands of war-displaced illiterate women to improve family welfare and community recovery, reduce their level of illiteracy and enable vulnerable families and communities to better meet their needs. It assists groups in identifying problems and taking basic actions such as road maintenance, creation of local markets and small shops in isolated areas, or the establishment of nursery schools, as well as developing income-generating activities for households.

In Mozambique, PROGRESSO, has designed and implemented a literacy programme aimed at empowering communities, structures and networks in the provinces of Niassa and Cabo Delgado, by providing knowledge, skills and resources, placing great importance on the use of local culture and languages in all of its learning materials.