This article is part of the Young Trailblazers series. In this series, we feature youth and students who are transforming education on the ground and driving progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
By Taibat Hussain
Inspired by the promise of possibility, SDG 4 Youth & Student Network member Elizabeth Shvarts co-founded Bridge to Literary, an international-student-led non-profit organization that connects young people looking to make an impact with learners needing educational support. As a creative whose most prominent form of self-expression is using words, Elizabeth understands the power of language and wields it to inspire change.
Elizabeth鈥檚 story of impact started with what she referred to as 鈥渁 bee鈥. If you thought she was referring to the insect, you would be just as wrong as I was. While living the experience of being in the National Spelling Bee and gushing over the etymology of 驳别尘眉迟濒颈肠丑办别颈迟, Elizabeth was motivated to bring the gift of language and literacy to children who were losing out on the opportunities that platforms such as the Spelling Bee provided, because of their economic status and location.
Elizabeth believes that true literacy lies in the versatility of what a student can accomplish with the foundation of reading and writing. To her, true literacy goes beyond comprehending a text and taking standardized tests; it is the 鈥渉ighest level of mastery a student can attain, not only in academics but in life in general鈥.&苍产蝉辫;
In seeking this mastery for others beyond herself, Elizabeth has found purpose through Bridge to Literacy, helping hundreds of students from underserved communities in Honduras, Gaza, Ukraine, Mexico and Kenya learn better.
Bridge to Literacy is an initiative driven by passionate volunteers who share Elizabeth鈥檚 passion. 鈥淚t takes a village to raise a child and fostering the love of language in more than 200 youths globally is no different,鈥 Elizabeth says.
Through passionate volunteers, Bridge to Literacy has established its presence across 6 continents. It collects educational tools, such as books and digital learning devices, to distribute to students to help improve their learning. The organization also provides one-on-one English lessons to these students virtually, using their most comfortable language as a point of connection and contact.
Elizabeth鈥檚 dream of improving access to education has led her to devise creative ways to make learning more accessible. Using relatable stuff like superheroes from action movies and books like the Harry Potter series, Bridge to Literacy volunteers break down the nouns and adjectives, simplifying the English language for their learners.
When asked what inspired her to start the initiative, Elizabeth recalls a moment shared with a student tutored through the initiative: 鈥淪piderman is a person. Avrom鈥檚 eyes beam with pride as he masters the art of identifying nouns one Marvel reference at a time. Out of context, the study of grammar or adjectives doesn鈥檛 sound like the most invigorating activity, but as a mentor and co-founder-co Executive Director of Bridge to Literacy for the last two years, uniting over 150 mentors and students across 6 continents and 17 countries through their zeal for language and cultural connections is a testament to education, especially literacy education, and its ability to empower.鈥
The lack of access to opportunities for these students leads to what she described as 鈥渢he comorbidities of poor grades, low self-esteem, fewer job prospects and even mental health issues鈥. Learning something new instills confidence in students, and improving the mental well-being of students in underserved communities is one of the key motivations for Elizabeth鈥檚 work. When asked what she thought the impact of her work has been, Elizabeth said: 鈥淲ords are the most tangible form of magic. By this token, language is magic put to use. Increasing access to and quality of literacy education ensures that every child, regardless of income level or geographic location, is able to harness this magic.鈥
Elizabeth has found purpose in using her poetry to share the gift of language and lend her voice to the issues she cares about. She is an NYC Poet Laureate Ambassador and was a finalist in Climate Speaks, a climate-themed youth spoken word programme. Speaking on different platforms and using her social media, Elizabeth continues to use words to advocate for social equity through education and health.
As a first-generation American, Elizabeth realizes the opportunities that opened up to her through education and wants to bring some of these opportunities across communities, borders and continents. Presently, Bridge to Literacy has collected over 2,000 books and over 300 iPads and computers for distribution.
Talking about a young person on a mission, Elizabeth is on a mission to give more kids the opportunity to obsess over words like 鈥減neumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis鈥 and the etymology of 驳别尘眉迟濒颈肠丑办别颈迟, just because they can.
Disclaimer: This article series is published with the inputs from the SDG 4 Youth & Student Network members. The series provides them with a platform for expression where they present their work as a source of inspiration for others. The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. UNESCO does not endorse any project or organization mentioned in the article.
