By Ogova Ondego
Published April 28, 2015
The world’s largest award for children‘s and youth literature shall be presented to a South African organisation on June 1, 2015.
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The week leading to the presentation ceremony of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) to Project of the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA) in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, shall start on May 25 with a special literature programme targeting students, educators, media and the general public in Stockholm and Vimmeby cities.
PRAESA, who were on March 31, 2015 announced as recipients of the ALMA, shall be represented in Sweden by their Executive Director Carole Bloch, Training Coordinator Ntombizanele Mahobe and Programmes Support Officer Malusi Ntoyapi.
ALMA Director, Helen Sigeland, says of PRAESA’s participation: “With their efforts to make literature vibrant in several languages and to raise children’s self-esteem as a starting point, we hope to inspire and engage. Many people want to meet them, and in the program this year the interaction with students and educators are particularly prominent. We are obviously very delighted and excited about this!”
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ALMA, a SEK5 million cash prize that is given annually, is “designed to promote interest in children’s and young adult literature.” A jury of experts selects the laureate(s) from among the candidates nominated by institutions and organisations globally for the ALMA whose foundation is the United Nations’ convention of rights of the child. The Swedish Arts Council-administered ALMA was founded by the Swedish government in 2002.