It takes an incredible amount of compassion and initiative to build libraries and write books in African languages as a teen from New York! Recognised for his remarkable efforts in addressing the societal and literacy concerns in South Africa, James Bloom was deservingly awarded Youth Category Winner of the 2025 World Literacy Foundation Awards.
South Africa (23 March 2025) – Despite being from the privileged American city of New York, James Bloom is a remarkable young man whose heart has been pulled by the needs of South African children.
Moved to help bring books and foster a love for reading to children from disadvantaged communities, James soon became an ambassador for Breadline Africa, collaborating with the child development charity to tackle literacy needs.
Together with his brother Colin, who is also a Breadline Africa Ambassador, James co-founded Libraries for Literacy to provide greater access to books and improve literacy in South Africa. To date, they have established five libraries at schools in South Africa, three of which are in partnership with Breadline Africa!
In honour of James’ continued efforts, he was recently named as the Youth Category Winner of the 2025 World Literacy Foundation Awards.
These awards honour individuals and organisations for their exceptional efforts in promoting literacy learning. A recognition that aligns perfectly with James’ mission to advocate for children who may not have had access to books or the opportunity to develop a love for reading.
To further showcase his passion for books and literacy, always with the needs of children in mind, James has also previously developed books in African languages such as Zulu, Xhosa, Xitsonga and Sepedi to address his then concerns with the scarcity of African language children’s books.
“James has been a true hero. His dedication to literacy and education has changed countless young lives, and this recognition is a testament to his unwavering passion.
“At Breadline Africa, we are honoured to work alongside James to build more libraries and provide more children with access to books and the joy of reading. His commitment to driving change inspires us all, and we are so proud to be his partner on this journey,” said Breadline Africa.
James, you are tackling significant barriers and your cross-cultural empathy and collaboration are not only inspiring but are greatly impacting many young lives too!
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