According to Snapplify, this award is a testament to Snapplify's e-library programme, which is dedicated to providing accessible digital educational resources to learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds.

The inspiration for this online resource was a realisation of the profound language diversity that exists worldwide. Accessing sufficient digital educational resources is often a significant challenge, especially for learners from different linguistic backgrounds, says Snapplify.

The Covid-19 pandemic further underscored the importance of remote learning and accessible digital resources, Snapplify adds. 

With over 50 000 free eBooks, Snapplify's e-library offers around-the-clock access to engaging educational and leisure reading materials. Teachers can easily share curriculum-aligned educational content and grow reading communities in their schools while receiving insightful analytical data on student activity and performance.

Various language settings are accommodated, and teachers receive language-specific training and support. Currently, the platform hosts content in all 11 South African languages and several other African languages.

The impact of Snapplify's Africa e-library project extends far beyond the classroom, says the education solutions provider. Through partnerships with local governments and over 1 000 local and international publishing and content partners, over three million learners have been reached.

This initiative has also brought educators, parents and the wider community together to inspire a love for reading and lifelong learning, Snapplify says. 

At the launch of the programme in the Eastern Cape, Snapplify South Africa government partnership manager Stephen Bestbier expressed his pride in the company's achievements.

"We were very warmly welcomed by the entire community, and our contribution to their children's education has been deeply appreciated. Seeing little children in some of the remotest parts of our country proudly reading aloud from books they only have access to, because of our work, is extremely humbling."

Collaborations with education departments in various provinces, particularly KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape, have played a significant role in equipping thousands of students and teachers with the digital tools and resources they need to learn and teach effectively, Snapplify adds. 

Snapplify believes that literacy skills should be intertwined with broader issues such as environmental consciousness, social justice and cultural understanding. The e-library features multicultural literature with diverse characters, settings and perspectives to encourage empathy, tolerance and cultural awareness while advancing literacy skills.

By continuously adapting to the rapidly evolving technological landscape, accessibility is ensured across various devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, adds the education solutions provider. 

"Snapplify relies on the support of key stakeholders who share our mission to increase access to education and transform the future through literacy. We invite governments, NGOs and ministries of education throughout Africa to collaborate with us and expand the range of available content by adding more resources and books in local languages," adds Bestbier. 

"Together, we can enable all African learners to access the best digital education tools and empower them for a brighter future," Bestbier concludes. 

While the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize is a tremendous honour, Snapplify sees it not as an endpoint but as a stepping stone toward their greater goal.

It aims to extend its technology solutions across the entire African continent, collaborating with governments, teachers, learners and other education stakeholders to establish robust and sustainable digital learning ecosystems.

For more information, visit www.home.snapplify.co.za. You can also follow Snapplify on Facebook, X or on Instagram.