NCODE 2013 Update

s

Reading Liberia/Reading Sierra Leone Collection Continues to GrowLast year, CODE celebrated a major milestone in its Reading

Sierra Leone program with the publication of the first eight

Reading Sierra Leone books. Written and illustrated by

Sierra Leoneans, the books tell compelling contemporary

stories that children and youth from the country can

identify with. Through the Reading Sierra Leone program,

CODE and its partner PEN Sierra Leone are creating and

supporting literate environments in the country by engaging

children through reading and writing and inviting them

to think, to learn and to improve their lives. They are also

striving to develop a sustainable publishing industry for

children’s books in post-conflict Sierra Leone.

Combined with the books published as part of Reading

Sierra Leone’s sister program Reading Liberia, the collection

now includes 31 locally-produced books for young readers

from Grade 1 to 6 – and many more are in the works.

In addition to copies of the books distributed to schools and

libraries in Sierra Leone and Liberia through CODE’s programs,

our Liberian partner the WE-CARE Foundation was able to secure

purchase agreements through the Ministry of Education’s Teacher

Training Program with funding from the World Bank. This means

that, in Liberia alone, over 400,000 high-quality books have been

made accessible to youth so far.

These purchase agreements not only speak to the quality of the

books produced and ensure that more children will get access

to engaging, culturally-relevant books, but also contribute to the

economic sustainability of CODE’s local partners – an essential part

of our programs.

Another year has gone by and CODE is very proud of the meaningful impact we’ve had in the world in 2013 by helping children to learn to read and write — by working with local authors, illustrators, editors and publishers, by producing and distributing high-quality and culturally-relevant books, by resourcing libraries, by training teachers and training trainers. Thanks to the support of our donors, we can, each year, continue to build a world where every child can read and write and unleash their full potential for a better future. We thought we’d share with you some of the highlights of 2013.

Liberian students using the Reading Liberia books in the classroom.

(Photo by B.D. Colen)

(Photo by B.D. Colen)

Tanzanian Girls Receive Leadership Training, Inspire Younger Peers to LearnIn an effort to foster school and community-based reading as well as

to provide an opportunity for young women, CODE’s local partner

the Children’s Book Project (CBP) trained 40 female secondary

school graduates (age 14-18) to become Reading Coaches who will

be leading after-school reading clubs and library outreach. These

young women will be supported by the teachers at the school and

by CBP’s training coordinator, who is based in Kongwa. The girls

were trained on how to facilitate reading sessions, reading clubs, and

other promotional activities for children in lower and middle grades,

in addition to providing more outreach with parents and the wider

community. These activities are geared towards enabling children to

come together to share the joy of reading books.

Now that the ground work has been laid for this program, we look forward to seeing positive results from the girls and the

students in coming years. The young female Reading Coaches will gain leadership skills and will receive ongoing support so

they can improve their own literacy skills, which will help them in their future employment possibilities. They will be empowered

to become leaders of change in their community and play an important role at the school as positive and inspiring role models

to help more children enjoy and practice reading.

Valerie Hussey Joins CODE AmbassadorsCODE was honoured to welcome Valerie Hussey as its newest Ambassador in 2013. A recipient of the

Order of Canada for her work in publishing and philanthropy, Valerie is an important figure of children’s

publishing in Canada. She’s collaborated with CODE in the past, having worked with Kenyan publishers

and helped to launch the Kitabu House, Kenya Children’s Book Project in Nairobi in 1996.

Chaired by Peter Mansbridge, the CODE Ambassadors is a panel of distinguished Canadians who care

about international education and support our long term success in delivering quality literacy programs to

children. Under the patronage of the Governor-General, these outstanding citizens help open doors and

guide our work.

CODE Welcomes New Director of International ProgramsIn the summer, CODE welcomed a new member to its team in Ottawa. Eric Slade was appointed Director of International

Programs.

Eric brings over 15 years of experience in international development as well as education to CODE.

Having served as a teacher and teacher educator in schools in several African countries, then moving on

to act as an education program manager and advisor for a not-for-profit organization, Eric has a strong

understanding of the education needs, issues and challenges of the developing world.

Prior to joining CODE, Eric held several positions at Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian

organization dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. He worked

both in the field, in Niger and Angola, and from the organization’s Dublin, Ireland offices. Most recently,

as Concern Worldwide’s Global Education Advisor, he was responsible for education programs in 15

developing countries. Eric is an associate at the Centre for International Education at the University of

Sussex. In addition to English, he also speaks French, Kiswahili and Portuguese.

CODE is excited to add such an experienced and passionate individual as Eric to its team.

CODE at The Word on the Street FestivalOn September 23rd, CODE participated in The Word on

the Street Toronto, Canada’s largest literary festival. In its

23rd edition, the event turned Queen’s Park Circle into a

book and magazine lover’s paradise by showcasing Canada’s

hottest new books and authors, as well as the best Canadian

magazines. CODE’s booth showcased some of the books

published through our programs as well as Burt Award for

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature finalists. We also

had the visit of many CODE expert-volunteers who shared

their experiences with visitors. In addition, children got the

opportunity to make postcards about reading, which will be

distributed to students benefitting from CODE’s programs

in a developing country we work in. It was a great day and

we’re looking forward to next year’s edition!

Two of the young women working as Reading Coaches.

Valerie Hussey

Eric Slade

Children made postcards about reading to be distributed to children

benefitting from CODE’s programs in Africa.

None of these milestones could have been achieved without the support of our donors. If you want to help CODE continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of children around the world in 2014 and beyond, please show your support by making a donation now at www.codecan.org/donate/donate-now. Or, consider becoming a monthly donor and help us throughout the year. Every dollar counts!

www.facebook.com/codecan.org www.twitter.com/codecan_org www.youtube.com/thecodecan

Follow Us on Social Media!

Tanzanian Girls Receive Leadership Training, Inspire Younger Peers to LearnIn an effort to foster school and community-based reading as well as

to provide an opportunity for young women, CODE’s local partner

the Children’s Book Project (CBP) trained 40 female secondary

school graduates (age 14-18) to become Reading Coaches who will

be leading after-school reading clubs and library outreach. These

young women will be supported by the teachers at the school and

by CBP’s training coordinator, who is based in Kongwa. The girls

were trained on how to facilitate reading sessions, reading clubs, and

other promotional activities for children in lower and middle grades,

in addition to providing more outreach with parents and the wider

community. These activities are geared towards enabling children to

come together to share the joy of reading books.

Now that the ground work has been laid for this program, we look forward to seeing positive results from the girls and the

students in coming years. The young female Reading Coaches will gain leadership skills and will receive ongoing support so

they can improve their own literacy skills, which will help them in their future employment possibilities. They will be empowered

to become leaders of change in their community and play an important role at the school as positive and inspiring role models

to help more children enjoy and practice reading.

Valerie Hussey Joins CODE AmbassadorsCODE was honoured to welcome Valerie Hussey as its newest Ambassador in 2013. A recipient of the

Order of Canada for her work in publishing and philanthropy, Valerie is an important figure of children’s

publishing in Canada. She’s collaborated with CODE in the past, having worked with Kenyan publishers

and helped to launch the Kitabu House, Kenya Children’s Book Project in Nairobi in 1996.

Chaired by Peter Mansbridge, the CODE Ambassadors is a panel of distinguished Canadians who care

about international education and support our long term success in delivering quality literacy programs to

children. Under the patronage of the Governor-General, these outstanding citizens help open doors and

guide our work.

CODE Welcomes New Director of International ProgramsIn the summer, CODE welcomed a new member to its team in Ottawa. Eric Slade was appointed Director of International

Programs.

Eric brings over 15 years of experience in international development as well as education to CODE.

Having served as a teacher and teacher educator in schools in several African countries, then moving on

to act as an education program manager and advisor for a not-for-profit organization, Eric has a strong

understanding of the education needs, issues and challenges of the developing world.

Prior to joining CODE, Eric held several positions at Concern Worldwide, an international humanitarian

organization dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. He worked

both in the field, in Niger and Angola, and from the organization’s Dublin, Ireland offices. Most recently,

as Concern Worldwide’s Global Education Advisor, he was responsible for education programs in 15

developing countries. Eric is an associate at the Centre for International Education at the University of

Sussex. In addition to English, he also speaks French, Kiswahili and Portuguese.

CODE is excited to add such an experienced and passionate individual as Eric to its team.

CODE at The Word on the Street FestivalOn September 23rd, CODE participated in The Word on

the Street Toronto, Canada’s largest literary festival. In its

23rd edition, the event turned Queen’s Park Circle into a

book and magazine lover’s paradise by showcasing Canada’s

hottest new books and authors, as well as the best Canadian

magazines. CODE’s booth showcased some of the books

published through our programs as well as Burt Award for

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature finalists. We also

had the visit of many CODE expert-volunteers who shared

their experiences with visitors. In addition, children got the

opportunity to make postcards about reading, which will be

distributed to students benefitting from CODE’s programs

in a developing country we work in. It was a great day and

we’re looking forward to next year’s edition!

Two of the young women working as Reading Coaches.

Valerie Hussey

Eric Slade

Children made postcards about reading to be distributed to children

benefitting from CODE’s programs in Africa.

None of these milestones could have been achieved without the support of our donors. If you want to help CODE continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of hundreds of thousands of children around the world in 2014 and beyond, please show your support by making a donation now at www.codecan.org/donate/donate-now. Or, consider becoming a monthly donor and help us throughout the year. Every dollar counts!

www.facebook.com/codecan.org @codecan_org www.youtube.com/thecodecan

Follow Us on Social Media!

The Burt Literary Awards Go GlobalIn 2013, the Burt Literary Awards became a truly global initiative. This unique readership initiative program which recognizes

excellence in young adult literature and provides young readers with access to books they will enjoy and want to read is now

implemented in four countries in Africa as well as in the Caribbean and Canada.

Burt Award for African LiteratureThis year, through the Burt Award for African Literature, nine new high-quality, engaging and culturally-relevant titles were

published in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. Over 30,000 copies of these winning titles were donated to 1,700 schools,

100 community libraries, and other charitable organizations, providing youth with stories they can relate to.

In Tanzania, where the Award was first established in 2008,

the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training this year

approved three winning titles for inclusion in the secondary

school curriculum for English Language and Literature. As

a result, the books will be read by students nation-wide in

4,538 secondary schools. Burt Award winning books have

stretched across the country to find readers in remote rural

areas which are traditionally under-served in terms of reading

materials and facilities.

In Kenya, CODE is particularly proud that 200 copies of

each of the winning titles in the inaugural local Burt Award

were distributed to seven high schools located in four

different refugee camps in northern Kenya through Windle

Trust Kenya, an NGO whose primary mission is to provide,

promote and coordinate quality education and training for

refugees. The books were made available to a total of 3,500

students, coming mostly from Sudan and Somalia. English is the medium of instruction in these schools, but students struggle

with the language, due in part to a sever lack of engaging reading materials.

As part of the Burt Award for African Literature’s capacity-building element, 166 local editors and writers were trained in six

writing and publishing workshops in the four countries.

Burt Award for Caribbean LiteratureBuilding on the experience it has gained with the program in Africa, as well as its long established partnerships in the region,

CODE proudly launched the Burt Award for Caribbean Literature in 2013. In partnership with the Bocas Lit Fest and CaribLit,

the Award aims to provide engaging and culturally-relevant books for young people across the Caribbean. The first call for

submission was launched in April 2013 at the NGC Bocas Lit Fest in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the winners will

be announced at a Gala during this year’s festival in April 2014. In order to encourage the development of a significant pool of

quality titles written by Caribbean authors for Caribbean youth, CODE and its partners will hold the first in a series of writing

workshops in Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in the spring of 2014.

321 Chapel Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Z2toll-free 1 800 661 2633 t. 613 232 3569 f. 613 232 7435codehq@codecan.org

Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit LiteratureFinally, in 2013, the first winners of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature were announced during a Gala

hosted by Shelagh Rogers and Waubgeshig Rice on Oct. 2nd in Ottawa. Richard Wagamese received the first prize for Indian

Horse (published by Douglas and McIntyre), Tara Lee Morin

won the second prize for As I Remember It (published by

Theytus Books), while the third prize of went to James

Bartleman for As Long As the Rivers Flow (published by

Random House of Canada Ltd.)

In December, as part of the Award's book purchase and

distribution program, 7,500 copies of three winning books

were distributed to more than 980 schools, community

organizations, libraries and Friendship Centres in all

Canadian provinces and territories to use as part of their

programs supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth.

The books will also be included in the reading lists of

Frontier College's Summer Aboriginal Literacy Camps in

2014. The book purchase and distribution program is an

important element of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis

and Inuit Literature, as it ensures that high-quality, culturally-relevant books get in the hands of Aboriginal youth and help them

to discover the joy of reading and, in turn, improve their literacy skills.

The deadline for publishers to make a submission to the second edition of the annual award is May 1, 2014.

Winners of the Burt Award for African Literature — Ethiopia working on their manuscripts with CODE expert-volunteer Ted Staunton

Third prize winner James Bartleman with William (Bill) Burt

CODE Summit for Literacy 2014Preparations for the CODE Summit for Literacy 2014 got

under way in 2013 and recruitment is now complete. In July

2014, CODE will benefit from an exceptional and inspired

group of individuals that will challenge their own personal

adversity in ascending 5,895m to summit Kilimanjaro so that

young minds in Africa may also unleash their own potential

through the power and promise of CODE’s literacy and

education programs. This will be the third time in eight

years that such a climb is organized to support CODE.

You can support the climbers by visiting our website at support.codecan.org/kili. Stay tuned for news and

updates before and during the climb!

We want to hear from you!

Registered Charity # 11883 4878 RR0001

The Burt Literary Awards Go GlobalIn 2013, the Burt Literary Awards became a truly global initiative. This unique readership initiative program which recognizes

excellence in young adult literature and provides young readers with access to books they will enjoy and want to read is now

implemented in four countries in Africa as well as in the Caribbean and Canada.

Burt Award for African LiteratureThis year, through the Burt Award for African Literature, nine new high-quality, engaging and culturally-relevant titles were

published in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania. Over 30,000 copies of these winning titles were donated to 1,700 schools,

100 community libraries, and other charitable organizations, providing youth with stories they can relate to.

In Tanzania, where the Award was first established in 2008,

the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training this year

approved three winning titles for inclusion in the secondary

school curriculum for English Language and Literature. As

a result, the books will be read by students nation-wide in

4,538 secondary schools. Burt Award winning books have

stretched across the country to find readers in remote rural

areas which are traditionally under-served in terms of reading

materials and facilities.

In Kenya, CODE is particularly proud that 200 copies of

each of the winning titles in the inaugural local Burt Award

were distributed to seven high schools located in four

different refugee camps in northern Kenya through Windle

Trust Kenya, an NGO whose primary mission is to provide,

promote and coordinate quality education and training for

refugees. The books were made available to a total of 3,500

students, coming mostly from Sudan and Somalia. English is the medium of instruction in these schools, but students struggle

with the language, due in part to a sever lack of engaging reading materials.

As part of the Burt Award for African Literature’s capacity-building element, 166 local editors and writers were trained in six

writing and publishing workshops in the four countries.

Burt Award for Caribbean LiteratureBuilding on the experience it has gained with the program in Africa, as well as its long established partnerships in the region,

CODE proudly launched the Burt Award for Caribbean Literature in 2013. In partnership with the Bocas Lit Fest and CaribLit,

the Award aims to provide engaging and culturally-relevant books for young people across the Caribbean. The first call for

submission was launched in April 2013 at the NGC Bocas Lit Fest in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and the winners will

be announced at a Gala during this year’s festival in April 2014. In order to encourage the development of a significant pool of

quality titles written by Caribbean authors for Caribbean youth, CODE and its partners will hold the first in a series of writing

workshops in Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago in the spring of 2014.

321 Chapel Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7Z2toll-free 1 800 661 2633 t. 613 232 3569 f. 613 232 7435codehq@codecan.org

Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit LiteratureFinally, in 2013, the first winners of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Literature were announced during a Gala

hosted by Shelagh Rogers and Waubgeshig Rice on Oct. 2nd in Ottawa. Richard Wagamese received the first prize for Indian

Horse (published by Douglas and McIntyre), Tara Lee Morin

won the second prize for As I Remember It (published by

Theytus Books), while the third prize of went to James

Bartleman for As Long As the Rivers Flow (published by

Random House of Canada Ltd.)

In December, as part of the Award's book purchase and

distribution program, 7,500 copies of three winning books

were distributed to more than 980 schools, community

organizations, libraries and Friendship Centres in all

Canadian provinces and territories to use as part of their

programs supporting First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth.

The books will also be included in the reading lists of

Frontier College's Summer Aboriginal Literacy Camps in

2014. The book purchase and distribution program is an

important element of the Burt Award for First Nations, Métis

and Inuit Literature, as it ensures that high-quality, culturally-relevant books get in the hands of Aboriginal youth and help them

to discover the joy of reading and, in turn, improve their literacy skills.

The deadline for publishers to make a submission to the second edition of the annual award is May 1, 2014.

Winners of the Burt Award for African Literature — Ethiopia working on their manuscripts with CODE expert-volunteer Ted Staunton

Third prize winner James Bartleman with William (Bill) Burt

CODE Summit for Literacy 2014Preparations for the CODE Summit for Literacy 2014 got

under way in 2013 and recruitment is now complete. In July

2014, CODE will benefit from an exceptional and inspired

group of individuals that will challenge their own personal

adversity in ascending 5,895m to summit Kilimanjaro so that

young minds in Africa may also unleash their own potential

through the power and promise of CODE’s literacy and

education programs. This will be the third time in eight

years that such a climb is organized to support CODE.

You can support the climbers by visiting our website at support.codecan.org/kili. Stay tuned for news and

updates before and during the climb!

We want to hear from you!

Registered Charity # 11883 4878 RR0001