Vodacom uses its technology to advance literacy in communities

Vodacom and Read A Book SA today launched an e-reader programme which uses information and communication technology (ICT) to advance and encourage a culture of reading in South Africa.

The programme offers an innovative model whereby Vodacom seeks to advance literacy development, one of the most critical elements in the education value chain, by installing an e-reader application on 45 tablets which will be freely available at the nine Vodacom ICT Resource Centres. This will enable learners and community members to read e-books at the centres.

Radio personality and e Reader Library Ambassador Sibusiso Leope also known as Dj Sbu

Radio personality and e Reader Library Ambassador Sibusiso Leope also known as Dj Sbu

Chief Officer: Corporate Affairs at Vodacom, Maya Makanjee says: “Our aim is to use our technology to help make a difference in the communities where our customers live. Access to reading material is a major challenge in South Africa. As many learners do not have access to libraries and reading material, Vodacom together with Read A Book SA believes that we can help address this problem by broadening access to literacy in this way.”

The tablets will be loaded with e-books in the following genres; African literature, History, Business/Entrepreneurship and Fiction amongst others.

Executive Head of Department at the Vodacom Foundation, Mthobeli Tengimfene

Executive Head of Department at the Vodacom Foundation, Mthobeli Tengimfene

CEO of Read A Book SA, Tebogo Ditshego says: “According to the South African Books Development Council, only 15% of South Africans have access to a nearby library. This initiative will play a role in addressing this problem by creating access to literature for the communities around Vodacom’s ICT centres nationwide. The tablets will be updated with reading material regularly to ensure that visitors have constant access to new reading material.”

To further encourage a culture of literacy, visitors at the ICT Resource centres will be able to download the e-books to a memory stick or to their cell phones.

O.R. Tambo International Airport celebrates its 7th renaming anniversary by giving back

OR tambo logoO.R. Tambo International Airport celebrates its 7th renaming anniversary by giving back

Johannesburg, 25 October 2013 – As part of its 7th year renaming commemorations, O.R. Tambo International Airport hosted a book reading session for 187 school children from Chivirikani Primary School on Friday, 25 October 2013. This initiative was aligned to the airport’s support for Early Childhood Development through its Social Economic Development Programme (formerly referred to as Corporate Social Investment).

Held at the recently unveiled Oliver Reginald Tambo Memorial Exhibition, the book reading session also embraced the legacy of Oliver Tambo (after whom the airport is named), who was a teacher and believed in the power of education.

O.R. Tambo International Airport General Manager, Tebogo Mekgoe said, “As a company, we believe that education is the most powerful tool for economic and social emancipation for South Africa. On the special occasion of the airport’s 7th renaming anniversary, we wanted to share this awareness with our future leaders.”

The Grade 1 children from Katlehong were engaged, at their level, to encourage them to start reading at a young age and reap the benefits thereof later in life.

Actress Nolo Phiri reading to primary school pupils

Actress Nolo Phiri reading to primary school pupils

“If today’s session resonates with even just one learner, we would have achieved the positive impact that we seek, both for the individual children, and the country as a whole,” added Mekgoe.

The children were entertained by clowns and face painters after the formal programme was concluded.

The book reading event was preceded by a blanket drive where 300 blankets were donated to six organisations, on 24 October. This, after a preschool in Ekurhuleni recently suffered a burglary, during which all blankets used by the school’s children, were stolen.

Unathi Batyashe-Fillis, Manager: Communications and Brand Management added that, “We are honoured to be giving back on our birthday. We could not sit back and decided to provide the warmth required by residents of these organisations at this time.”

Since Airports Company South Africa took over nine of the country’s basic airports 20 years ago, it has transformed O.R. Tambo International into a state of the art airport. The airport, which was renamed O.R. Tambo International Airport on 27 October 2006 is Africa’s largest and busiest airport, handling an average of 19 million passengers every year.

O.R. Tambo International Airport celebrated its seventh year renaming anniversary on 27 October 2013, which is also the birthday of the late Oliver Tambo.

SA Reading Foundation Launches National Book Week

ReadaBookSA

Press Release

For immediate release

Issued by Ditshego Media

On behalf of the South African Reading Foundation

 

SA Reading Foundation Launches National Book Week

NYDA joins SA Reading Foundation to celebrate the love of reading

Johannesburg – September 3, 2013 – The South African Reading Foundation (SARF) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) held a launch of National Book Week at Wits University yesterday. The event was hosted by SABC 1 Sunday Live News Anchor Tumelo Mothotoane and Luvuyo Mandela with the aim of celebrating the positive impact which books have had on those present and also discussing how reading can be made more appealing to young South Africans.

Guest speakers included Chairperson of NYDA Yershen Pillay, Chairman of the South African Reading Foundation Tebogo Ditshego, Wits University Vice Chancellor: Academic Professor Andrew Crouch and Metro FM Present Sibusiso Leope popularly known as DJ Sbu.

Yershen Pillay highlighted the NYDA’s new focus areas and the role reading can play in developing the youth moving forward. “We would like to be part of spreading a reading culture because we have redirected our focus to supporting education and skills development. As we celebrate National Book Week we need to find ways to use technology to build a reading nation” said Yershen Pillay.

Tebogo Ditshego discussed how spreading a book reading culture can help develop South Africa’s economy and increase its global competitiveness. “According to a study which was published in the UK Telegraph in May 2013, the single most important indicator of a teenager’s future success is whether or not he/she reads books for pleasure. Germany is a great example of a country which has successfully spread a reading culture and this has played a role in enabling them to become a nation with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world” said Tebogo Ditshego.

National Book Week has been running for four years and this year’s theme is “The Books of our lives” implying that anyone can find a book which they’ll be interested to read.

ABI and DITSHEGO MEDIA gives 5000 bottles to queuing UJ applicants

Johannesburg – January 12, 2011 – Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI), the soft drink division of South African Breweries (SAB), teamed up with Ditshego Media to distribute free refreshments for student’s queuing outside the University of Johannesburg’s campus during registration. This comes just two days after the tragedy which occurred outside the University of Johannesburg where several students were injured and one mother was killed during a stampede.

The scenes of hundreds of students sleeping outside the University premises for days led to the recognition by ABI and Ditshego Media that students may not be able to purchase refreshments without losing their place in line.

Speaking outside the campus, ABI Corporate Affairs Specialist William Mahlasela said “This was a crisis situation which required urgent response from various external stakeholders. Fortunately the University responded positively to this initiative and fast-tracked the process to ensure we can provide these refreshments in time.”

A total of 500O were distributed throughout the day to applicants who queued outside the Bunting Road premises, awaiting access to the campus to check the status of their applications.

“We are really indebted to ABI and SAB for their sharp response in this regard and we are also grateful that the management of the University of Johannesburg has swiftly agreed to the initiative which illustrates that our thoughts are truly with these students seeking to access education” remarked Ditshego Media CEO Tebogo Ditshego.

These refreshments will be provided until the application process has been completed which means that students can be rest assured that the process will be less daunting and or life threatening.

Editor’s Note: Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI), the soft drink division of The South African Breweries Limited (SAB), is the leading soft drink business in the SABMiller group and remains one of the largest producers and distributors of Coca-Cola brands in the southern hemisphere. It accounts for approximately 60% of Coca-Cola sales in South Africa.

ReadaBookSA launches a Mandela reading campaign

“Basically we want individuals to sit with kids within their families or community and read for them for just 67 minutes,” says Tebogo Ditshego the founder of the ReadabookSA campaign.

“We want them to give kids a taste or intrigue them about how good and fun reading can be, that way kids get to adopt the reading culture. From what I’ve read about Nelson Mandela he is a man who always wanted us to be masters of our destiny. I think this initiative will be a great tool in ensuring that our kids read so that they can truly be the masters of their destinies”.

Ditshego says the Mandela reading campaign idea was sparked by their recent talk at the Nelson Mandela Center of Memory. They loved the idea of creating something that doesn’t cost much but then goes a long way in adding value to the society. “Mandela Day is all about positive investments that can enrich our society and I think the Mandela reading initiative embodies those values,” adds Ditshego.

[pullquote align=”left or right”]I think this initiative will be a great tool in ensuring that our kids read so that they can truly be the masters of their destinies[/pullquote]

The South African Reading foundation has been committed to promoting the reading culture in South Africa. For more than a year, the foundation has been engaging South African readers through their ReadabookSA campaign and making reading a more fun activity.

ReadabookSA was created on 24 April 2012 and uses Twitter to promote the culture of reading. Since its launch the foundation has managed to garner over 22 000 followers on the social platform. Its followers are encouraged to read one book a month, share a picture of it along with a little review. The popular books are then added to the foundation’s favourite book list, which is already sitting at 3000. According to Ditshego the programme seems to be quite a hit with the youth.

“Since the launch of the programme we have received quite a positive response from the youth especially. They have mentioned how it’s helped them discover the fun side of reading and has also truly opened them up to a whole new world of reading,” says Ditshego.

The campaign has been endorsed by some of the top SA public figures including Generations actress Katlego Danke, songstress Lira, popular blogger Khaya Dlanga, Sbusiso Leope (DJ Sbu) and Public Enterprise Minister Malusi Gigaba.

According to Ditshego these are the few public figures who strongly believe that “Instead of sitting and complaining, let’s do something and lead our country into the right direction because leaders are readers.”

To join ReadabookSA’s Nelson Mandela read a book campaign simply follow ReadabookSA on Twitter.

ReadaBookSA in Partnership with NYDA

NYDA_logo

Press Release

For immediate release

Issued by Ditshego Media

On behalf of the South African Reading Foundation

SA Reading Foundation in Partnership with NYDA Launches 67 Minutes of Reading to Children Campaign on Mandela Day

Johannesburg – July 18, 2013 – On Nelson Mandela International Day the South African Reading
Foundation (SARF) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) donated African Literature
books to 60 children at the Johannesburg Children’s Home.
This forms part of the 67 minutes of Reading to Children Campaign which aims to raise awareness
about the importance of parents reading books to their children and assisting in spreading a culture
of reading in South Africa. According to a survey conducted by the South African Books Development
Council, 5% of parents read books to their children and this plays a major role in the low reading
statistics recorded by the Council which indicate that only 14% of South Africans are considered
regular book readers.

SARF is also currently running the Read a Book SA Campaign on Twitter with over 23 824 followers,
the followers are encouraged to read books to their children or younger siblings for 67 minutes and
send pictures of them participating in this activity to @ReadabookSA.
Chairman of SARF Tebogo Ditshego says, “We would like to urge parents to start reading to their kids
from 0 to 12 years of age because that is when most of the child’s habits are formed. Children see
reading as a fun activity and if parents succeed in influencing their kids to read, they will be
increasing the chances of the child succeeding academically and ultimately in their respective
careers.”