Canberra’s Youth Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation, Harini Babu. Photo: Supplied.
Harini Babu knows she’s one of the lucky ones. Arriving in Canberra from India as a baby, Harini, now 18, has been back to the sub-continent many times, on each occasion recognising inequalities when it comes to literacy.
She says regardless of where you live in India, English is the language you need to learn when it comes to doing well at school and getting the best jobs.
“If you can’t communicate, you are at a great disadvantage,” she said. “All the forms you need for everything are in English. That’s why I am so passionate about language and everyone having the opportunity to be heard.”
The passion has led the young Canberran to be named the capital’s Youth Ambassador for the World Literacy Foundation.
Although Harini has only just been appointed to the role, she is keen to spread the word and work with the 50 or so other ambassadors around the world to help ensure everyone who wants to learn to read and write, can.
“I have always been passionate about literacy and had been looking for a volunteering opportunity, so this was perfect,” she said.
“Although I’ve just started in the role, I am looking forward to help raise awareness about the importance of literacy and helping to organise events to spread the word.”
Harini, who is in her first year of a Bachelor of Health Science at the Australian National University, went to Radford College where she did the International Baccalaureate – the global education program designed to help young people develop intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills.
Harini indulged her passion for languages at college, studying Japanese and Chinese. She also studied French during earlier years.
She has also excelled during her academic career, admitting to “love studying”.
“I’ve always believed in putting in a lot of effort,” she said.
“I’m really passionate about being a youth ambassador because I know what it’s like for people in Indian villages who don’t have the opportunity to learn English and so face discrimination when it comes to jobs.
“In India, there are lots of standardised tests and they’re all in English. So it’s unfair for many people who don’t have the opportunity to read it or speak it.”
A World Literacy Foundation spokesperson said Harini would serve as a local advocate to increase education and community awareness about the importance of reading and writing and to help lift literacy rates.
“She will join a global community of young people aged between 15 and 25 passionate about literacy and leaders in their communities,” the spokesperson said.
“Her role as a youth ambassador is not just about her local community in Canberra. It’s a collective effort to improve literacy outcomes for disadvantaged children worldwide.”
The World Literacy Foundation, a global non-profit organisation, says 770 million people worldwide cannot read a single word and an additional two billion people grapple with reading a sentence. It says, on average, 72 per cent of children in low-income households face reading difficulties and that illiteracy can profoundly impact a young person’s social and economic impact.
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