This heritage month, The Do More Foundation is shining a spotlight on the parents of Nkomazi, who are sparking a lifelong love of reading in their young children using proudly South African books that provide stories that resonate with their own culture and heritage.
At the core of this initiative lies the Read and Play at Home programme, a collaborative effort that emphasises the importance of local languages and cultural contexts in early literacy development.
By providing parents in Nkomazi with culturally relevant books and training, The Do More Foundation’s Read and Play at Home programme has fostered a deep bond between families, empowering parents to become active participants in their children’s education.
Parents are becoming their children’s first teachers, sharing stories that celebrate local cultures and languages. By providing culturally relevant books and interactive learning tools, we are sparking a lifelong love of reading in over 2,200 families – with more to come!
This is our contribution towards the shocking Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) showed that in 2021, 81% of South African Grade 4 learners could not read for meaning in any language. This is up from 78% in 2016. South Africa was ranked last out of the 43 countries and experienced the largest decline of all the countries participating.
The Read and Play at Home programme is a shining example of how collaborative efforts can make a significant impact on early childhood development. As we continue to navigate the challenges of ensuring quality early childhood education for all, initiatives like Read and Play at Home provide a blueprint for success, demonstrating the power of partnership in shaping the future of our children.
We would like to expand this programme to more young children and families across South Africa - let's connect and #DoMore. Contact our Partnerships Team to work with us to create better tomorrows for South Africa’s young children, their families, and communities: iris.naidoo@domore.org.za
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