The 2023 National Reading Barometer gives a grim prognosis for literacy and reading skills in South Africa (SA), revealing that nearly three in five homes don’t have access to a single fiction or non-fiction book and 65 percent of homes with children under age 10 do not possess a single picture book. Many learners leave Grade One without knowing all the letters of the alphabet and it is predicted that by 2026 approximately 69% of 10-year-olds will be unable to read for meaning.

“The academic, social and emotional impact of poor literacy skills cannot be underestimated – resulting in frustration, low self-esteem, declining academic results, and ultimately, poor employment prospects,” says Seago Maapola, educational psychologist.

Yet, there is some good news! According to the barometer, many South Africans want to read. If only books were more accessible and there were enough texts available in African languages, enabling children to engage with diverse material that they can relate to and identify with.

According to educational experts, pre-literacy skills should be introduced from as early as birth. “Learning starts at home and is then supported at an Early Childhood Development (ECD) level. It’s imperative for a child to listen to stories in their mother tongue to understand and attach meaning to what has been read to them. Reading helps develop vocabulary, reasoning, critical thinking, and creates a love for reading which improves educational outcomes and economic opportunities later in life,” says Maapola.

She adds that it is critical that all children are able to easily access quality reading material and ideally this should be in their mother tongue, but unfortunately this remains out of reach for many children. 

In response to this need, Wimpy announced the launch of its flagship Corporate Social      Investment Initiative, “Read with Wimpy,” at an inaugural handover event with over 250 children at Uthando Day Care, in Vanderbijlpark which included a special reading with award-winning poet, writer and activist, Lebohang Masango on Nelson Mandela Day, July 18th. The “Read with Wimpy” initiative aims to build literacy skills at an ECD level across SA by making multicultural, multilingual reading materials and literacy aids more accessible at underprivileged ECD centres across the country.

For the past three years, Wimpy, a family orientated brand, has partnered with online children’s bookstore, Ethnikids, for their annual kids’ campaign, making diverse books based on local South African folktales available at Wimpy restaurants and online. Building on the success of these in-restaurant campaigns, the “Read with Wimpy” Initiative will see the rollout of a “Wimpy Library in a Box” to underprivileged ECD centres nationwide on an ongoing basis.

Each box will include:

• A movable book trolley containing 45-48 South African folktale storybooks written and illustrated by local authors in all 11 official languages.
• A package of five books – a mix of English and home languages – for each child to take home.
• Teacher and comprehension aids with activity sheets and comprehension questions.

These materials aim to develop phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary skills while fostering a love for reading through engaging and relatable books in each child’s home language.

Wimpy plans to host handover events at each ECD which will include a party with lunch and a visit from the initiative’s mascot, Modise, the reading magician, who will inspire children to “save the world” by being readers through fun anecdotes and magic tricks.

Wimpy Brand Manager, Jodi Law, emphasises the brand’s commitment saying, “Through our recent storybook campaigns, we have realised the essential need for children to access to books in their own language. As a responsible South African brand, we are committed to providing children with relatable stories and characters in a language they understand.”

“Give children access to books, read to them, and read with them. We must cultivate a love of reading in our homes, on our playgrounds, and in our classrooms. Literacy unlocks the world of potential for children and the magic of discovery,” Maapola concludes.