The Yidan Prize Foundation has named Mamadou Amadou Ly, Executive Director of Associates in Research and Education for Development (ARED), as the 2025 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate. Ly’s pioneering bilingual and inclusive education models have transformed foundational learning for children across West and Central Africa, earning global recognition for their impact on literacy, equity, and cultural preservation.
Under Ly’s leadership, ARED has developed scalable bilingual education programs that integrate national languages with formal instruction, significantly improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for both in-school and out-of-school children. By teaching in languages children already understand alongside those they need to learn, ARED’s approach ensures culturally relevant education that resonates with local communities. Its openly licensed teaching materials, accessible through the Early Learning Resource Network, have influenced education policies in Senegal, Mauritania, The Gambia, and beyond.
“Mamadou’s work demonstrates that bilingual, community-driven education, backed by robust data, can close learning gaps and shape public policy,” said Dorothy Gordon, Head of the Yidan Prize Education Development Judging Panel. “His vision provides a model for equitable learning that preserves linguistic and cultural identities while opening doors to opportunity worldwide.”
Ly expressed gratitude for the recognition, stating, “The Yidan Prize will accelerate ARED’s mission, proving that inclusive education can transform lives and inspire systemic change.” ARED’s partnerships, notably with Senegal’s Ministry of Education, have strengthened national curricula through applied research and data-driven insights.
Awa Ka Dia, ARED’s Programme Director, emphasized the collaborative ethos, saying, “Transforming education requires collective effort. Our open resources are designed to adapt and scale across diverse contexts.”
This year’s Yidan Prize also honors Professor Uri Wilensky of Northwestern University as the Education Research Laureate for his work in agent-based modeling. Wilensky’s open-source tool, NetLogo, fosters complex systems literacy, enabling learners—from young children to researchers—to explore phenomena like climate change and economic instability. Both laureates exemplify innovative, sustainable approaches to education, aligning with the Yidan Prize’s mission to recognize transformative changemakers.
Each laureate will receive HK$30 million (approximately US$3.8 million), including an unrestricted project fund to scale their initiatives. They will join the Yidan Prize Council of Laureates, a global community fostering collaboration and innovation in education. The laureates will be celebrated at the Yidan Prize Awards Ceremony on December 6, 2025, in Hong Kong.
Ly’s work addresses critical educational challenges in West and Central Africa, where language barriers often hinder learning. By prioritizing bilingualism, ARED empowers children to build foundational skills while preserving cultural heritage. Its adaptable model offers a blueprint for global education reform, demonstrating how inclusive, data-informed strategies can drive systemic change.
As education faces increasing demands for equity and innovation, the 2025 Yidan Prize underscores the power of visionary leaders like Ly and Wilensky. Their contributions illuminate pathways to a more inclusive, informed, and sustainable future through education.
