Three Educational Organizations, Including Colombia's BibloRed, Selected for UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on September 9 that three organizations have been awarded the 2026 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize: "BibloRed" from Colombia, the "Rutu Foundation for Intercultural Multilingual Education" from the Netherlands, and the "Waer Waters Charity Foundation" from Nigeria.

UNESCO celebrates September 8 every year as "International Literacy Day." The "UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize" was established in 1989 with support from the Korean government to promote King Sejong's spirit of invention of the Korean alphabet, Hangeul, and to join UNESCO's efforts toward eradicating illiteracy. The prize is awarded to organizations or individuals who have contributed to literacy efforts worldwide.

Beginning this year, the Ministry has increased the cash prize for each recipient from USD 20,000 to USD 30,000 to enhance recognition for the awardees. This year’s award ceremony was held on the 8th (local time) in San Juan Chamula, Mexico.

2026 UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize winners are taking a commemorative photo at the awards ceremony held on the 8th in San Juan Chamula, Mexico. Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

This year’s competition, held under the theme "Literacy for People, Planet and Prosperity," received a total of 132 nominations from 72 countries. This is an increase of 35 submissions compared to last year, indicating growing international interest. The international jury selected organizations that expanded the inclusiveness of literacy education and presented innovative teaching methods as prize winners.

BibloRed of Colombia supported multilingual literacy education and the preservation and revitalization of native languages for marginalized groups through its "Escuelas Leo" program, which is operated via the Bogotá public library network. In particular, it contributed to strengthening community identity by providing Spanish education tailored for deaf learners and fostering intercultural dialogue.

The Rutu Foundation from the Netherlands proposed a multilingual and inclusive educational model through its "Language Friendly Schools" program, which treats students' diverse native languages not just as tools of communication but as resources for learning. The foundation focused on creating a school environment that respects linguistic diversity and on narrowing educational gaps.

The Waer Waters Charity Foundation in Nigeria established solar-powered literacy hubs through its "Accelerated Basic Literacy Project," providing safe learning spaces. Through tiered education in indigenous languages such as Igbo and Ijaw, they improved basic literacy among marginalized children and supported their reintegration into formal education.

Myung Soo-hyun, Director General for Cultural Policy at the Ministry, stated, "It is deeply meaningful that the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, which embodies King Sejong’s spirit behind creating Hangeul, has established itself as a prestigious award contributing to the promotion of literacy worldwide." He added, "We will continue to strengthen cooperation with UNESCO so that all people across the globe can communicate with the world through literacy without being marginalized."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.