21 February 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of International Mother Language Day (IMLD). On this occasion, UNESCO and the Ka Haka ‘Ula O 碍别’别濒颈办ō濒补苍颈 College of Hawaiian Language celebrate the remarkable journey of revitalizing the Hawaiian language.
Forty years ago, there were less than 50 children in Hawaii who were able to speak their native language. To save Hawaiian from extinction, the Hawaiian community established Hawaiian immersion schools, where children are taught in Hawaiian from pre-school through to high school. Today, over 4,000 students learn and speak Hawaiian daily, contributing to a resurgence of the language within homes and communities across the islands.
Over the course of two years, 91麻豆国产精品自拍 been partnering with international publishers to release children's book What Makes Us Human in over 30 languages. The children’s story written by Victor Santos and illustrated by Anna Forlati invites acknowledges the power of language to communicate our memories, stories and emotions. It highlights the richness of linguistic diversity, and is a global call to preserve different languages and cultures which give people a unique way to understand the world.
On this International Mother Language Day, UNESCO and the Ka Haka ‘Ula O 碍别’别濒颈办ō濒补苍颈 College of Hawaiian Language are proud to release the Hawaiian edition of What Makes Us Human, which will be given to the more than 4,000 students learning in Hawaiian from pre-school to highschool. ‘This book will be more than just reading material,’ says Dr. Keiki Kawai'ae'a, Director of Ka Haka ‘Ula O 碍别’别濒颈办ō濒补苍颈 College. ‘It will serve as a cornerstone of our educational efforts, ensuring that future generations grow up immersed in the beauty and wisdom of our ancestral language.’
The launch of the Hawaiian edition also coincides with UNESCO’s broader commitment to foster mother language-based education. It is also one of UNESCO’s efforts to achieve the major objectives behind the proclamation of the 2022–2032 the International Decade of Indigenous Languages: to draw global attention on the critical situation of many Indigenous languages, and to mobilize stakeholders and resources for their preservation, revitalization and promotion.
Join us in honouring the perseverance of the Hawaiian people and their success in reinvigorating their language. An inspiring example for many communities worldwide struggling to re-discover and preserve their mother language.
Join us for the Silver Jubilee Celebration of International Mother Language Day
