Praneeta Mahajan
Hamilton, July 1, 2024
In a bold move to tackle the persistent issue of illiteracy, two young women from Auckland have been named Youth Ambassadors for the World Literacy Foundation (WLF). The announcement came last week, on June 26, 2024, confirming that Mary Xu and Savete Tealikisele will spearhead local advocacy efforts to promote the importance of reading and writing and to elevate literacy rates in Auckland, New Zealand.
Meet the Ambassadors
Mary Xu, a 25-year-old employee at Auckland Council, dedicates her weekdays to her professional role while spending her weekends volunteering with various community organisations. Her exceptional skill in recruiting volunteers was demonstrated recently when she successfully onboarded over 200 individuals for a three-day community event.
Ms Xu’s commitment to community service drives her eagerness to assume the role of a WLF ambassador. Her experience in public sector roles and leadership positions within non-profit organisations has equipped her with a robust skill set in community engagement and organizational management.
Through her involvement with the WLF, she aims to enhance her leadership capabilities and draw from others’ experiences in literacy advocacy.
Ms Xu is particularly concerned about the rising illiteracy trends in New Zealand, which she attributes to factors such as absenteeism and the lack of mandatory studies. She acknowledges governmental efforts like banning phones in classrooms and instituting dedicated hours for reading, writing, and mathematics.
However, she believes more can be done and is motivated to contribute to WLF’s mission of eradicating illiteracy. She sees education as a transformative tool that can significantly uplift her community and beyond.
Savete Tealikisele, aged 21, is a young Tuvaluan woman pursuing dual degrees in Communications and Global Studies with a focus on Global Politics and Human Rights. Born in New Zealand and raised in Tuvalu, Savete returned to New Zealand in 2010. Her upbringing in Tuvalu has deeply influenced her commitment to climate change advocacy, a cause she is passionate about.
Ms Tealikisele sees her role as a WLF Ambassador as an opportunity to advance her career aspirations and her dedication to climate change advocacy.
She believes that by promoting literacy, she can address critical issues affecting her homeland of Tuvalu and the broader Pacific region. Illiteracy, she notes, hinders economic development and restricts access to essential information on health and environmental issues, perpetuating cycles of poverty. In the context of climate change, illiteracy limits communities’ abilities to understand and respond effectively to environmental changes.
The Mission Ahead
As WLF Ambassadors, both youth leaders will leverage their platforms to raise awareness about the interconnected issues of literacy and community well-being. By promoting education, they seek to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and mitigate various social challenges, including the effects of climate change.
Through their roles as Youth Ambassadors, Mary and Savete aim to develop leadership skills while spotlighting literacy issues within the broader community. Their advocacy and efforts will be instrumental in driving the WLF’s mission forward, helping to create a more literate and empowered society.
About the organisation
The World Literacy Foundation, an international non-profit dedicated to eradicating illiteracy by 2024, faces a daunting task. Currently, 770 million people worldwide cannot read a single word, and an additional 2 billion struggle to read a sentence. In low-income households, an average of 72% of children face reading difficulties, which can have long-term social and economic consequences. The WLF works tirelessly to provide educational resources, support programs, and advocacy initiatives to combat these statistics, striving to ensure every individual has the opportunity to acquire basic literacy skills.
Praneeta Mahajan is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Hamilton.
