A South African alternative education project has been awarded this year’s Astrid Lindgren Prize for children’s literature for innovative ways of encouraging reading and literature among children and youth.  “The Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa” as it is know, was established in 1992 as an independent research unit affiliated with the University of Cape Town.  It was born from the struggle against apartheid education and has focused on language-in-education policies.  In announcing the award Tuesday, the jury in Helsinki, Finland, cited the organization for opening “mew routes into the world of books and literature for young readers” with the joy of reading as a compass point.  The annual award, worth $580,000, is named after Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren who created the Pippi Longstocking book series.