Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, UNESCO Country Representative to Ghana has named World Vision Ghana as overall winner of the 2021 UNESCO -Japan prize on Education for Sustainable Development
The UNESCO/Japan Prize has been awarded since 2015 to outstanding projects in education for sustainable development. The Award which is been sponsored by the Japanese government will see world vision Ghana taken away US $50,000 to exceptional projects and programmes in the field of ESD.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, UNESCO Country Representative of Ghana emphasized that Education for Sustainable development empowers learners for all ages, with knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to address the interconnected global challenges we are facing including climate change, environmental degradation, poverty and inequality.
The Country representative explained that the United Nations organisation incharge of education, science and culture believes that learning must prepare learners at all ages to find solutions for the challenges of today and the future.
According to Mr. Diallo, world vision International emerged winners from stiffer opposition because since it’s establishment in 1950 has proven to be one of the most innovative and results oriented humanitarian aid, development and advocacy organisation in the world at large.
The Chairperson of the Ghana Commission for UNESCO , Marian Nortey Mrs. Attributed that government with guidance from the national education strategic plan from 2018-2023 is improving learning assessments in basic schools particularly among girls.
Mrs Nortey, who represented the Minister of Education Mr Yaw Adutwum, Stated in categorically that education can help the country fighting ignorance, poverty, disease and other challenges confronting the nation and others.
She therefore used the opportunity to congratulated world vision Ghana for the prestigious award they received and encouraged them to do more intems of children education.
Speaking on behalf of the National director of world vision Ghana, Akua Mensah, the acting National director world vision Ghana expressed her profound gratitude to UNESCO for the esteemed award.
This according to her, the recognition by UNESCO would surely inspire them to keep going further to see children of the world thrive. “A baseline survey conducted by world vision International in Ghana in 2013 indicates that only about 3% of children in grade 2 can read with comprehension.”
Stressing that world vision Ghana has invested close to USD $9.5 million for the past five years on reading interventions in 10 districts across between 2016 and 2021.
In conclusion, madam Akua Mensah, assured commitment in supporting the ministry of education and the Ghana education service to enable as many boys and girls to learn and also to achieve their aims.
World Vision Ghana intends to use the US$50,000 to provide a fully furnished e-library to one of its programme communities to give many more children the opportunity to read, learn and develop.
World Vision Ghana was chosen for its ‘Unlock Literacy Project’, which is an evidence-based, holistic approach to improving children’s core reading skills.
Report By Bernard K DADZIE