By Jeon Misun

This year's UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize, which recognizes people, organizations or agencies that fight illiteracy worldwide through emphasis on a country's native languages, has gone to organizations based in Senegal, Ecuador and Thailand.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Seoul on Sept. 10 said that to mark International Literacy Day on Sept. 8, the three recipient organizations were honored at a ceremony held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris: DALN (Directorate of Literacy and National Languages) of Senegal; INEPE (Institute for Research, Education and Popular Promotion) of Ecuador; and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand.

Launched in 1990 to honor the spirit of King Sejong the Great's creation of Hangeul and eradicate illiteracy worldwide, the annual prize recognizes organizations or institutions in developing economies that contribute to promoting the use of native languages and enhancing literacy.

DALN has converted native languages in Senegal into Braille, enabling visually impaired people to learn to read and write and acquire math and digital skills. INEPE offers in Ecuador participatory and intergenerational learning programs in communities that foster digital literacy and critical thinking among children and youth.

And the NSTDA was recognized for its efforts in Thailand to expand equal learning opportunities through a variety of media like digital publications, sign language interpretation, subtitles and audio descriptions for bridging the literacy gap for disabled students.

The ministry will invite representatives from the three bodies to Korea to mark the 579th Hangeul Day on Oct. 9. They will attend a related celebration and visit major tourist spots like the National Museum of Korea, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, Chenggyecheon Stream and Tongin Market.

msjeon22@korea.kr