Giving Compass' Take:

• Global Citizen profiles Michelle Nkamankeng, a literary prodigy from South Africa who wrote her first book when she was 7 years old. Two years later, she is publishing her second and becoming an advocate for female empowerment.

• Besides Nkamankeng's remarkable achievements, what else can we learn from the young writer? How can her story inspire us to fund more child literacy programs around the world?

• Here's a full guide on the organizations and initiatives making an impact in the field of literacy.

“If you can read, you can write, and when you can write, you can change the world.”

These are the words of Johannesburg-based author Michelle Nkamankeng who, at just 9 years old, has become a literary sensation.

Nkamankeng was just 7 years old when she made history by becoming the youngest African author to make the list of the world’s top 10 young writers. Now, as well as an award-winning author, she is also an education activist and speaker.

But it all started for Nkamankeng when she visited a local bookstore and realized that most children’s books were written by adults.

“I was like, why can’t children also explore and share their own stories with the world, for the world to hear their voices and see their imagination,” Nkamankeng tells Global Citizen. “Through telling your story, you can inspire the world and you can make people realize that they can also do more in the world.”

With such powerful self-will, Nkamankeng started working on her eight-book series, of which two have so far been released. Following her firm belief that literature is one of the most potent tools to foster change in the world, she has recently published her second book, entitled, The Little Girl Who Believes in Herself.

Read the full article about the 9 year-old South African author out to change the world by Mbali Kgame at Global Citizen.