Africa (NLSA), is helping to strengthen a culture of reading by making
more than 400,000 children’s books available to schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD)
centres across the country.
As part of the partnership, McDonald’s South Africa is donating more than 400,000 children’s books,
while the National Library of South Africa is co-ordinating and facilitating the distribution of the
books to identified ECD centres and communities. The initiative gets underway during September’s
Literacy Month, with a focus on expanding access to age-appropriate reading material and
encouraging children to discover the joy of reading.
The national programme will be launched at Loding Primary School in Mpumalanga, with the NLSA
co-ordinating the distribution of books to ten identified ECD centres in Loding, Vaalbank and
surrounding areas.
The initiative will place books directly into the hands of children. Every participating child will receive
a book to take home, while the participating ECD centres will receive an equivalent number of books
to strengthen their reading resources. The programme will go beyond book distribution,
incorporating reading sessions, storytelling, literacy activities and library experiences.
The National Library of South Africa will play a key role in connecting the donated books with
children and ECD centres that need them most, supporting the broader national effort to improve
access to reading material and promote a culture of reading from an early age.
As part of the Mpumalanga activities, the Mpumalanga Library Service mobile library bus will visit
Trying Angels Educare in Vaalbank, giving children an opportunity to step inside a mobile library,
explore books and experience what a library has to offer. The activities will also include
entertainment designed to make reading an enjoyable and memorable experience.
McDonald’s South Africa’s contribution comes against the backdrop of a significant literacy challenge
facing the country. South Africa ranked last among 57 countries assessed in the 2021 Progress in
International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), which assessed the reading ability of approximately
400,000 learners globally. The study found that around eight in ten South African children struggle to
read for meaning by the age of 10.
For children in vulnerable communities, limited access to books and reading resources can further
compound these challenges. Through this partnership, McDonald’s South Africa and the National
Library of South Africa are seeking to address one part of this challenge by expanding children's
access to books and creating opportunities for positive reading experiences.
Dr Ralph Links, Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of South Africa, welcomed the
contribution and highlighted the importance of partnerships that expand access to books.
“This generous contribution represents an important investment in South Africa’s children and
comes at a time when literacy remains a significant national challenge. The National Library of South
Africa is pleased to partner with McDonald’s South Africa in ensuring that these books reach children
and ECD centres where they can make a meaningful difference. The contribution will help expand
access to reading material and strengthen a culture of reading amongst children.”
For McDonald’s South Africa, the initiative builds on a longstanding commitment to making books
more accessible to children. Since 2019, the company has offered children’s books as an alternative
to toys with McDonald’s Happy Meals, providing families with an opportunity to choose reading
material for their children.
Millicent Maroga, Impact Director at McDonald’s South Africa, said the company believes access to
books can help shape a child’s future.
“Our mission is to ensure all children, no matter their background, can access the joy of reading. This
September, together with the National Library of South Africa, we will do our best to ensure as many
children as possible have access to books in their schools and communities to spark a lifelong love of
reading.”
The more than 400,000 books being donated will include titles covering some of South Africa’s
official languages, supporting the importance of accessible and relevant reading material for children
from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
Access to books can play an important role in strengthening literacy and learning opportunities.
Beyond supporting academic development, regular reading can help children build confidence,
imagination and a lifelong connection with learning.
Maroga added, “The ongoing literacy crisis in South Africa requires that organisations who care
about the future of this country contribute towards encouraging a love and culture of reading.”
Through the partnership, McDonald’s South Africa and the National Library of South Africa is helping
ensure that the donated books reach children and ECD centres in communities where access to
reading resources is needed most. Together, the organisations aim to make a meaningful
contribution to South Africa’s literacy efforts – one book, one child and one community at a time.
