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
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
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.