Who is Aditi Paudel? Meet 17-year-old Tokyo student who became Japan’s first literacy ambassador

Aditi Paudel, a 17-year-old high school senior residing in Tokyo, has been appointed as Japan's first literacy ambassador. The appointment marks the first time a Japanese ambassador has been selected for the program run by the World Literacy Foundation, a global nonprofit organization based in Australia. Andrew Kay, the CEO and founder of the foundation, noted that while the program has been running for 12 years, this is the first instance of a Japanese ambassador being appointed.

Paudel, who was born in Japan but spent her early childhood in Nepal, returned to Japan to start her third grade. The transition to a new life, including relearning Japanese, challenged her. Despite these difficulties, Paudel has developed a passion for reading. She sees literacy as a broader concept than just reading and writing, describing it as "something that helps you open doors for more opportunities."

Her love for reading began early, nurtured by her father who bought her several books. She developed an affinity for fantasy, particularly fond of Enid Blyton's "The Wishing-Chair." The experience of reading Malala Yousafzai's autobiography, "I Am Malala," inspired Paudel's interest in female empowerment, including promoting education and literacy for women globally.

Paudel plans to collaborate with the Shanti Volunteer Association to collect and donate books to nations with lower literacy rates, including Nepal. Kay from the World Literacy Foundation praised Paudel for her leadership, passion for literacy, and commitment to empowering young people in Japan. He added that her curiosity about English has shaped thoughtful advocacy, enhancing the program's global voice and cultural reach.

While Japan boasts a literacy rate of about 99 percent, the situation in Nepal is starkly different. Here, only 76 percent of the population is literate, with a significant gender disparity. Men have a literacy rate of approximately 84 percent, whereas women's rate is 69 percent, according to the latest government data.