On this year’s International Day of Literacy, we are proud to announce that Literacy Amidst Violent Conflict (LAVC), an initiative led by Jennifer Chinenye Emelife, has been named a 2025 Library of Congress Literacy Awards recipient under the Emerging Strategies Honoree category.
This prestigious recognition honours our work with students and teachers at COEC Model Schools in rural Kaduna, where literature is used as a transformative tool to help students understand and analyze violence in north central Nigeria. Through this initiative, we’ve created a space that centers student voices, sustains their motivation to learn, and fosters agency in a world that often diminishes their potential.
Established in 2013, the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program recognizes organizations in the United States and abroad that provide exemplary, innovative, sustainable, and replicable strategies to promote literacy and reading. The program is generously supported by philanthropist David M. Rubenstein since its inception, and by the Kislak Family Foundation since 2023. With their ongoing support, the program has awarded over $4.3 million to more than 220 organizations across 42 countries. This year, the Library of Congress recognized 24 organizations, including:
- 4 organizations for outstanding contributions to expanding literacy and promoting reading.
- 15 organizations for implementing successful practices in literacy promotion.
- 5 literacy initiatives in early stages of development for demonstrating significant promise (including our own Literacy Amidst Violent Conflict!)
We are honoured to be among these changemakers. To celebrate this year’s winners and honorees, the Library of Congress will host a symposium and recognition event in Washington, D.C. this October. We look forward to joining fellow educators, literacy advocates, and global leaders to share insights and continue building strategies that support learners, especially in conflict-affected communities.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Library of Congress Literacy Awards team, the funders of this award, and especially the teachers and students at COEC Model Schools who first said yes to the idea of using literature as a lens to challenge oppressive practices. Your courage and commitment continue to inspire us.
More on the prize and other winners here: Library of Congress Announces 2025 Literacy Awards
