This article highlights a week-long training workshop held in Kananga, Kasaï Central, where more than 30 itinerant inspectors from the Ministry of Education were trained on World Vision’s Unlock Literacy 2.0 approach. Designed to tackle low reading comprehension rates among primary school pupils, where only 9% of Grade 3 children can read with understanding, the training equipped inspectors with the skills to integrate the method into the national curriculum, support teacher training, and provide ongoing coaching. Participants expressed strong commitment to applying the lessons learned, underscoring the programme’s role in strengthening foundational skills and promoting inclusive, quality education in the DRC.

In many rural schools across Zambia, a significant challenge persists: teachers often struggle to teach literacy in lower grades effectively. Despite the critical importance of developing strong reading and writing skills early on, many classrooms are marked by limited resources, inadequate training, and a focus on rote learning rather than holistic literacy development. As a result, many children enter upper primary school with weak foundational skills, hampering their overall academic progress and confidence.

Illiteracy remains one of the biggest challenges facing rural Zambia, especially in communities like World Vision Zambia’s Luswepo Area Programme in Isoka district. Many children grow up without the necessary skills to read and write, limiting their opportunities for a better future. In these areas, lack of access to quality educational resources and awareness often leaves parents unaware of how they can support their children's learning at home. This cycle of illiteracy hampers community development and perpetuates poverty.

We continue to support the most vulnerable children in the country, as humanitarian needs have remained high since the international withdrawal in 2021.

School meals are more than food on a plate. They have the potential to change how children relate to schools and serve as stimulus for a fulfilling learning journey and environment. Through the Partnering for Sustainable Education Outcomes (PARES), World Vision – Mozambique and consortium partners provide daily school meals to over 85,000 students in 157 primary schools across Monapo and Meconta districts (Nampula province), and Milange district (Zambézia province).

A reading park helped 10-year-old Abenezer go from struggling to read to becoming a confident student. See how it’s transforming young lives in Ethiopia.