According to Wimpy, the 2023 National Reading Barometer gives a grim prognosis for literacy and reading skills in South Africa (SA).

It reveals that nearly three in five homes don't have access to a single fiction or non-fiction book and 65% of homes with children under the age of 10 do not possess a single picture book.

Many learners leave the first grade without knowing all the letters of the alphabet, and it is predicted that by 2026 approximately 69% of 10-year-olds will be unable to read for meaning, according to the study. 

"The academic, social and emotional impact of poor literacy skills cannot be underestimated — resulting in frustration, low self-esteem, declining academic results and, ultimately, poor employment prospects," says Seago Maapola, an educational psychologist.

Yet, there is some good news, says Wimpy. According to the barometer, many South Africans want to read. If only books were more accessible and there were enough texts available in African languages, enabling children to engage with diverse material that they can relate to and identify with.

According to educational experts, pre-literacy skills should be introduced from as early as birth.

"Learning starts at home and is then supported at an Early Childhood Development (ECD) level. It's imperative for a child to listen to stories in their mother tongue to understand and attach meaning to what has been read to them. Reading helps develop vocabulary, reasoning, critical thinking and creates a love for reading, which improves educational outcomes and economic opportunities later in life," says Maapola.

Maapola adds that it is critical that all children are able to easily access quality reading material and, ideally, this should be in their mother tongue, but unfortunately this remains out of reach for many children.  

Wimpy says that its initiative was born out of this need. Read with Wimpy aims to build literacy skills at an ECD level across South Africa by making multicultural, multilingual reading materials and literacy aids more accessible at underprivileged ECD centres across the country.

For the past three years, Wimpy — a family orientated brand — has partnered with online children's bookstore Ethnikids for its annual children's campaign, making diverse books based on local South African folktales available at Wimpy restaurants and online.

Wimpy adds that, building on the success of these in-restaurant campaigns, the initiative will see the rollout of a 'Wimpy Library in a Box' to underprivileged ECD centres nationwide on an ongoing basis.

Each box will include:

  • a movable book trolley containing 45 to 48 South African folktale storybooks written and illustrated by local authors in all 11 official languages
  • a package of five books — a mix of English and home languages — for each child to take home, and
  • teacher and comprehension aids with activity sheets and comprehension questions.

According to Wimpy, these materials aim to develop phonemic awareness, fluency, comprehension and vocabulary skills while fostering a love for reading through engaging and relatable books in each child’s home language.

Wimpy says that it plans to host handover events at each ECD, which will include a party with lunch and a visit from the initiative's mascot Modise, the reading magician, who will inspire children to "save the world" by being readers through fun anecdotes and magic tricks.

Wimpy brand manager Jodi Law says, "Through our recent storybook campaigns, we have realised the essential need for children to access to books in their own language. As a responsible South African brand, we are committed to providing children with relatable stories and characters in a language they understand."

"Give children access to books, read to them and read with them. We must cultivate a love of reading in our homes, on our playgrounds and in our classrooms. Literacy unlocks the world of potential for children and the magic of discovery," Maapola concludes. 

For more information, visit www.wimpy.co.za. You can also follow Wimpy on Facebook, X, or on Instagram. 

*Image courtesy of contributor