Gugu Ndebele, one of South Africa’s leading children’s rights activists, has been appointed Vice- Chair of the Executive Management Bureau of the Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning.

Save the Children South Africa CEO, Gugulethu  Ndebele, has been elected  Vice-Chair of the Executive Management Bureau of the Global Alliance for Literacy within the Framework of Lifelong Learning (GAL), a UNESCO led initiative aiming to advance the global literacy agenda.

The former deputy director-general of education together with other global leaders and critical thinkers will drive policy implementation and social innovation to reduce illiteracy across the globe.

‘Critical to the SDGs is the commitment to leaving no one behind. However, reaching our great Sustainable Development Goals will not be easy if we do not address the high levels of illiteracy. Literacy forms the foundation for development, and the high levels of illiteracy across age groups mitigate against achieving of these goals. I see this appointment as an opportunity to further improve inclusive engagement across the continent and globe,” said Ndebele.

The newly elected Bureau for GAL consists of 7 representatives. Ms Ndebele will be working with two other Vice-Chairs: Ms Maria Helena Guimarães de Castro, Brazilian Deputy Minister of Education; and Ms Maria Khan, Secretary-General of the Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE). The Vice-Chairs will support two Co-Chairs; the Minister of Education of Côte d'Ivoire, Kandia Kamissoko Camara and the Director of the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL), Mr Arne Carlsen.

In addition, Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development, is an Honorary Member of the Bureau, while Mr Dan Wagner, the UNESCO Chair in Learning and Literacy, is Special Advisor.

These outstanding individuals will meet once a year to review the progress of the work of the Alliance and plan future policy.

For comments and interviews, please contact: Lois Moodley, Communications Manager, Save the Children South Africa at 012 430 7775

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