Tokyo Teen Aditi Paudel Becomes Japan's First Literacy Ambassador

A 17-year-old high school senior in Tokyo has been appointed as Japan's first literacy ambassador by the World Literacy Foundation, a global nonprofit based in Australia. Aditi Paudel is part of a cohort of roughly 900 young people aged 16 to 25 from 101 countries participating in the program, which is now in its 12th year.

Born in Japan, Paudel spent the first half of her childhood in Nepal before returning to Tokyo for the third grade. The transition meant relearning Japanese while adjusting to a new environment. She credits her father for nurturing an early love of reading, which began with fantasy stories like Enid Blyton's "The Wishing-Chair." She describes the experience of reading such books as immersive, allowing her to feel transported into the narrative.

Paudel's perspective on literacy extends beyond basic reading and writing skills. She views it as a tool that "opens doors for more opportunities." Her reading of Malala Yousafzai's autobiography, "I Am Malala," further shaped her interest in female empowerment and global access to education.

In her new role, Paudel plans to collaborate with the Shanti Volunteer Association to collect and distribute books to Asian countries with lower literacy rates, including Nepal. While Japan's literacy rate stands at roughly 99 percent, Nepal's is around 76 percent, with a notable gender gap: about 84 percent for men and 69 percent for women.

Andrew Kay, CEO and founder of the World Literacy Foundation, said Paudel was selected for her leadership, passion for literacy, and commitment to empowering young people in Japan. He also noted that her curiosity about English has contributed to thoughtful advocacy, strengthening the program's global voice and cultural reach.