When Lorato Trok, Executive Director of the Nal’ibali Trust, was honoured by the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA), the recognition reflected more than individual achievement. It highlighted the profound impact that literacy can have on children’s lives, communities and wellbeing.
As a globally recognised literacy leader, Lorato has spent her career championing the right of every child to access stories, books and meaningful reading opportunities. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown into a powerful movement that promotes reading for enjoyment and supports literacy development across South Africa through multilingual stories, reading clubs and community-based programmes.
Her work extends beyond literacy promotion. As a respected advocate for education policy, Lorato has consistently called for greater investment in children’s learning and development, helping to shape conversations around equitable access to quality education and literacy resources.
The AMHROA award is particularly significant because it recognises the connection between literacy and mental wellbeing. Research shows that reading and storytelling can help children build confidence, resilience, empathy and a sense of belonging.
Through creating opportunities for children to engage with stories in their home languages and within supportive communities, our work contributes not only to literacy outcomes but also to children’s social and emotional development.
This recognition celebrates a vision of literacy as a powerful force for positive change and a new generation of African leadership emerging through literacy, storytelling, social cohesion and people-centred change. It recognises the vital role stories play in helping children understand themselves, connect with others, build empathy and imagine brighter futures.
For us, the award is a reminder that literacy is about more than learning to read. It is about creating opportunities, strengthening communities and supporting children’s overall wellbeing. Lorato’s leadership has helped bring this vision to life, inspiring educators, caregivers, policymakers and literacy advocates across Africa and around the world.
As we celebrate this achievement, we also celebrate the thousands of children, families and communities whose lives continue to be transformed through the power of stories.
