One major problem that interferes with a person’s ability to participate in society is illiteracy. It restricts employment options and keeps people in a cycle of poverty. Despite having a basic literacy rate of over 95%, there are still some undeveloped areas of illiteracy in the Philippines.
Given the critical role that literacy plays in improving people’s lives, Globe and NABU, a reading software and mother language publishing platform that makes literacy available to children around the world, have teamed. NABU, a nonprofit organization with its headquarters in New York, aims to end poverty by promoting literacy.
The partnership is in line with Globe’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including UN SDG No. 4 on the provision of quality education, and UN SDG No. 17, which highlights the value of partnerships in achieving the sustainable development goals.
“Globe is always looking for ways to empower Filipinos. We believe that literacy is a fundamental right that should be accessible to everyone. This partnership with NABU will help us make reading more accessible to Filipinos, so they can learn, appreciate local culture, and reach their full potential,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer of the Globe Group.
“We are excited to be partnering with Globe on this project. This is the first time that we are venturing into the Philippine market. We are confident that this partnership will help us solve the imbalance in children’s book creation and distribution,” said Tanyella Evans, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Creator of NABU.
According to a joint report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the World Bank titled “Where are we on Education Recovery?,” the Philippines is currently experiencing a “learning poverty” where an estimated 70% of 10-year olds in low- and middle-income countries are unable to read or comprehend a simple story.
Their findings also showed how learning has become further exacerbated by the global pandemic, driven by the disruption to in-person schooling.
Through this partnership, Globe will serve as a distribution unit for NABU’s e-books throughout the Philippines to complement students’ learning. Anyone can access the Nabu.org mobile app for free.
Together, the two organizations are bringing more than a hundred Filipino books, with some translated into regional languages such as Hiligaynon, Bicolano, Ilokano, Cebuano, and Maranao. NABU believes that helping children read in their local language first allows their confidence to grow. Having culturally-represented, original, and relatable stories in bilingual text increases the child’s motivation to read.
Over the next two years, Globe and NABU will seek to expand the platform’s reach by partnering with schools and learning facilities. NABU is also excited to hone the skills of Filipino creatives such as writers and illustrators to continue telling and creating more stories that reach a wider audience.
On the Google Play Store and the App Store, you can get the NABU: Multilingual Kids Books app without charge. Visit https://www.nabu.org/read/ or https://www.nabu.org/tl/philippines for further information. The Globe has consistently backed reading and comprehension. There are hundreds of age-appropriate storybooks, eLearning videos, and other resource items that may be seen online or saved for later use on the Globe eLibrary mobile app and website (https://globeelibrary.ph/), which is available in the Philippines.
Visit the Globe website at www.globe.com.ph to discover more.
No Comments