The Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa (AMHROA) honored Lorato Trok for her leadership in literacy, education advocacy, and the connection between reading and wellbeing. The award highlighted the South African's long-standing work promoting reading for enjoyment, multilingual literacy, and broader learning opportunities for children across Africa. The recognition took place in Zambia on May 29, 2026.

"I am so grateful to the Association of Mental Health Reform Organisations in Africa for honouring me with this award. It means so much to me that my work is recognised by the powers that be across our mother continent," said Trok, Executive Director of the Nal'ibali Trust. 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.

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creating opportunities for children to engage with stories in their home languages and within supportive communities

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As a globally recognised literacy leader, the Kuruman, Northern Cape Province native, has spent her career championing the right of every child to access stories, books, and meaningful reading opportunities. Under her leadership, the organisation has grown into a powerful movement that promotes reading for enjoyment and supports literacy development across South Africa through multilingual stories, reading clubs, and community-based programmes.

Trok's work has influenced the Port of Harlem Gambian Education Partnership (POHGEP).  "Congratulations and thank you for helping me understand the importance of literacy, and the preservation and significance of languages," added POHGEP president Wayne Young.  Her influence is most felt in the POHGEP's newest permanent exhibit, "The Trans-Atlantic Human Trade and The Gambia's Overflowing Significance," where the naming will be in local languages and use native scripts.

The AMHROA award is particularly significant because it recognises the connection between literacy and mental well-being. Research shows that reading and storytelling can help children build confidence, resilience, empathy, and a sense of belonging.

Through creating opportunities for children to engage with stories in their home languages and within supportive communities, AMHROA says such work contributes not only to literacy outcomes but also to children's social and emotional development.

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Port of Harlem articles featuring Trok:
 
Lorato Trok and The Politics and Economics of Language

The Incredible Quest to Preserve a Dying South African Language (She also co-published the first-ever children's book written in N/uu, one of South Africa's most endangered indigenous languages.)

Curious Baby Elephant by Lorato Trok and Judith Walker, and illustrated by Wiehan de Jager (In English)