ACE Engineering College Student Ravula Hasini Reddy Named 2026 Youth Literacy Ambassador

Ravula Hasini Reddy, a student at ACE Engineering College in Hyderabad, has been selected as the 2026 Youth Literacy Ambassador by the World Literacy Foundation. The appointment is part of a global effort to encourage young people to lead community-driven initiatives to improve reading outcomes.

As part of the role, Hasini Reddy will join 900 Youth Ambassadors aged 16 to 25 representing 101 countries. The ambassadors are scheduled to collaborate over the next three months on various literacy initiatives at both local and global levels.

In her capacity as Youth Literacy Ambassador, Hasini Reddy will spearhead community outreach programmes, organise fundraising initiatives for literacy projects, and advocate for improved reading skills among children and young people. She will also focus on encouraging students, volunteers, and local communities to actively support ongoing literacy campaigns.

Annabelle, the 23-year-old Coordinator of the World Literacy Foundation's Youth Ambassador Program, highlighted the importance of the initiative in empowering young leaders to address global illiteracy challenges. She noted that a growing number of children and young people struggle to read, often preferring streaming platforms over books.

According to Annabelle, the greatest need for intervention is among children in low-income communities, many of whom do not own a single book. She emphasized that strong reading skills provide children with a vital foundation for lifelong learning, confidence, and opportunity.

Data from the World Literacy Foundation indicates that approximately 770 million people worldwide are unable to read a single word, while another 2 billion people struggle to read a full sentence. Furthermore, an estimated 72 per cent of children in low-income households face reading difficulties, underlining the necessity of targeted literacy campaigns.

Through this ambassadorship, Hasini Reddy will also receive leadership development opportunities while raising awareness of literacy challenges and mobilising community participation to improve reading outcomes.