South African Literacy Icon Lorato Trok Honoured with Prestigious Continental Award for Transformative Leadership

One of Africa's most influential literacy champions, Lorato Trok, has received continental recognition for her exceptional contribution to literacy, education, child development and community wellbeing across Africa.

The Executive Director of the Nal'ibali Trust was honoured on 29 May 2026 in Zambia by the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA), receiving a prestigious award that acknowledges her lifelong commitment to advancing literacy and strengthening the connection between reading, emotional wellbeing and social resilience.

The recognition was announced by the Nal'ibali Trust in a media release issued on June 1, 2026, celebrating Trok's outstanding leadership and the far-reaching impact of her work in transforming the lives of children and communities through literacy.

For more than two decades, Trok has been a formidable force in African children's literature, publishing, literacy advocacy and education policy.

Widely respected as a leading voice for mother-tongue education, she has consistently championed the preservation and promotion of indigenous African languages through storytelling and reading initiatives.

Born in Kuruman in South Africa's Northern Cape Province, Trok's passion for literacy was nurtured through the oral storytelling traditions of her family, particularly the Setswana stories shared by her mother.

These early experiences would shape a career dedicated to ensuring that every child has access to books, stories and learning opportunities in languages they understand and identify with.

Her academic journey includes studies in Teaching and Librarianship, complemented by advanced qualifications in Creative Writing and Editing, equipping her with the expertise that has distinguished her as one of Africa's most respected literacy practitioners.

As Executive Director of the Nal'ibali Trust, Trok oversees South Africa's largest national campaign focused on inspiring children to develop a love for reading.

Under her leadership, Nal'ibali has become a powerful force promoting reading, storytelling and literacy development among children across diverse communities.

Over the years, she has held key leadership and advisory positions with several renowned literacy and publishing institutions, including the Centre for the Book, the African Storybook Initiative, Room to Read and the Puku Children's Literature Foundation.

Through these roles, she has consistently advocated for equitable access to quality reading materials in all of South Africa's eleven official languages, helping to bridge educational inequalities and preserve linguistic heritage.

Trok is an accomplished author whose writings spotlight overlooked African histories and heroes. Among her notable works are The Forgotten Scientist: The Story of Saul Sithole and Rosina Sedibane Modiba: A Dream Denied, both of which bring attention to remarkable Black South Africans whose stories have often been absent from mainstream narratives.

She also co-published the first-ever children's book written in N/uu, one of South Africa's most endangered indigenous languages. The project has been hailed as an important milestone in safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring that future generations remain connected to their linguistic roots.

The latest honour from AMHROA adds to a growing list of accolades recognising Trok's influence in African publishing and literacy development.

In May 2022, internationally respected publisher and scholar Hans M. Zell profiled her among the 28 Leading Women in African Publishing and the Book Trade in The African Book Publishing Record

Her expertise has also earned her invitations to global platforms, including speaking engagements at the Library of Congress in the United States, where she shared insights on literacy, children's literature and language preservation.

In 2024, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Durban International Book Fair, recognising her enduring impact on literacy and publishing across the continent.

More recently, in June 2025, she was appointed to South Africa's Eminent Persons Group, tasked with leading the country's National Dialogue process aimed at promoting social cohesion, nation-building, and sustainable development.

The award from AMHROA is particularly significant because it highlights the increasingly recognised link between literacy and mental wellbeing.

According to the Nal'ibali Trust, the recognition reflects her unwavering commitment to ensuring that children across Africa have access to reading, storytelling and learning opportunities that support both educational achievement and emotional wellbeing.