A Gaborone teenager has been selected to represent Botswana in one of the world’s largest youth‑led literacy campaigns, joining 900 young leaders from 101 countries working to tackle the rising crisis in reading. Motheo Lesole, a student at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been named the 2026 Youth Literacy Ambassador for Gaborone. In this role, he will lead local literacy projects, speak at community events, and raise awareness about the growing number of children who are falling behind in reading.
Motheo says he wants to use his 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,” he said.
The World Literacy Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Program empowers young people aged 16-25 to advocate for literacy in their own communities. Program 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) don’t own a single book,” he said. “We’re seeing a global decline in reading confidence, and young leaders like Motheo are stepping up to change that.”
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, Motheo will collaborate with fellow ambassadors worldwide while delivering local initiatives to support early reading, book access, and community engagement.
“Strong reading skills give every child the foundation for learning, confidence, and opportunity,” Annabelle said. ” Motheo will be a powerful voice for literacy in Gaborone.”
