Africa (NLSA), is helping to strengthen a culture of reading by making
\nmore than 400,000 children\u2019s books available to schools and Early Childhood Development (ECD)
\ncentres across the country.
\nAs part of the partnership,\u00a0McDonald\u2019s South Africa is donating more than 400,000 children\u2019s books,
\nwhile the National Library of South Africa is co-ordinating and facilitating the distribution of the
\nbooks to identified ECD centres and communities.\u00a0The initiative gets underway during September\u2019s
\nLiteracy Month, with a focus on expanding access to age-appropriate reading material and
\nencouraging children to discover the joy of reading.
\nThe national programme will be launched at Loding Primary School in Mpumalanga, with the NLSA
\nco-ordinating the distribution of books to\u00a0ten identified ECD centres in Loding, Vaalbank and
\nsurrounding areas.
\nThe initiative will place books directly into the hands of children. Every participating child will receive
\na book to take home, while the participating ECD centres will receive an equivalent number of books
\nto strengthen their reading resources. The programme will go beyond book distribution,
\nincorporating reading sessions, storytelling, literacy activities and library experiences.
\nThe\u00a0National Library of South Africa will play a key role in connecting the donated books with
\nchildren and ECD centres that need them most, supporting the broader national effort to improve
\naccess to reading material and promote a culture of reading from an early age.
\nAs part of the Mpumalanga activities, the Mpumalanga Library Service mobile library bus will visit
\nTrying Angels Educare in Vaalbank, giving children an opportunity to step inside a mobile library,
\nexplore books and experience what a library has to offer. The activities will also include
\nentertainment designed to make reading an enjoyable and memorable experience.
\nMcDonald\u2019s South Africa\u2019s contribution comes against the backdrop of a significant literacy challenge
\nfacing the country. South Africa ranked last among 57 countries assessed in the 2021 Progress in
\nInternational Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), which assessed the reading ability of approximately
\n400,000 learners globally. The study found that around eight in ten South African children struggle to
\nread for meaning by the age of 10.<\/p>\n
For children in vulnerable communities, limited access to books and reading resources can further
\ncompound these challenges. Through this partnership, McDonald\u2019s South Africa and the National
\nLibrary of South Africa are seeking to address one part of this challenge by expanding children's
\naccess to books and creating opportunities for positive reading experiences.
\nDr Ralph Links, Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of South Africa, welcomed the
\ncontribution and highlighted the importance of partnerships that expand access to books.
\n\u201cThis generous contribution represents an important investment in South Africa\u2019s children and
\ncomes at a time when literacy remains a significant national challenge. The National Library of South
\nAfrica is pleased to partner with McDonald\u2019s South Africa in ensuring that these books reach children
\nand ECD centres where they can make a meaningful difference. The contribution will help expand
\naccess to reading material and strengthen a culture of reading amongst children.\u201d
\nFor McDonald\u2019s South Africa, the initiative builds on a longstanding commitment to making books
\nmore accessible to children. Since 2019, the company has offered children\u2019s books as an alternative
\nto toys with McDonald\u2019s Happy Meals, providing families with an opportunity to choose reading
\nmaterial for their children.
\nMillicent Maroga, Impact Director at McDonald\u2019s South Africa, said the company believes access to
\nbooks can help shape a child\u2019s future.
\n\u201cOur mission is to ensure all children, no matter their background, can access the joy of reading. This
\nSeptember, together with the National Library of South Africa, we will do our best to ensure as many
\nchildren as possible have access to books in their schools and communities to spark a lifelong love of
\nreading.\u201d
\nThe more than 400,000 books being donated will include titles covering some of South Africa\u2019s
\nofficial languages, supporting the importance of accessible and relevant reading material for children
\nfrom diverse linguistic backgrounds.
\nAccess to books can play an important role in strengthening literacy and learning opportunities.
\nBeyond supporting academic development, regular reading can help children build confidence,
\nimagination and a lifelong connection with learning.
\nMaroga added, \u201cThe ongoing literacy crisis in South Africa requires that organisations who care
\nabout the future of this country contribute towards encouraging a love and culture of reading.\u201d
\nThrough the partnership,\u00a0McDonald\u2019s South Africa and the National Library of South Africa is helping
\nensure that the donated books reach children and ECD centres in communities where access to
\nreading resources is needed most.\u00a0Together, the organisations aim to make a meaningful
\ncontribution to South Africa\u2019s literacy efforts – one book, one child and one community at a time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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