A Cape Town teenager has been selected to represent South Africa in one of the world’s largest youth-led literacy campaigns, joining 900 young leaders from 101 countries working to tackle the growing crisis in reading.

Literacy

Sisipho Zengetwa, a student at WeThinkCode, has been named the 2026 Youth Literacy Ambassador for South Africa. In this role, she will lead local literacy projects, speak at community events and raise awareness about the growing number of children who are falling behind in reading.

Sisipho says she wants to use her voice to highlight an issue that is often overlooked. “Too many children are missing out on the joy of reading simply because they don’t have books at home. I want to help change that and show young people that reading can open doors,” she said.

The World Literacy Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Programme empowers young people aged 16 to 25 to advocate for literacy in their own communities. Programme coordinator Annabelle, 23, says the need has never been greater. “Children are choosing streaming platforms over books, and many families, especially in low-income communities, do not own a single book,” she said. “We’re seeing a global decline in reading confidence, and young leaders like Sisipho are stepping up to change that.”

770 million

Globally, 770 million people cannot read a single word, and another 2 billion struggle to read a sentence. In low-income households, 72% of children face reading difficulties, contributing to long-term social and economic disadvantage.Annabelle says her own love of reading began with a single book. “When I started reading, it sparked my imagination and curiosity about the world. That spark grew into a hunger to learn more, explore more and read more.”

Over the next three months, Sisipho will collaborate with fellow ambassadors worldwide while delivering local initiatives to support early reading, improve access to books and encourage community engagement. “Strong reading skills give every child the foundation for learning, confidence and opportunity,” Annabelle said. “Sisipho will be a powerful voice for literacy in South Africa.”

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