Popularising reading, growing communities of readers, developing young writers
The FunDza Literacy Trust (FunDza) is dedicated to sparking and sustaining a ‘reading revolution’ in South Africa (SA). Increased reading lies at the heart of better education and opportunities for all. Reading develops not only the language and comprehension skills necessary for academic performance but it also creates hunger for knowledge. Reading fiction, in particular, builds insight and empathy. Improved literacy is a pre-requisite for acquiring skills that lead to more employment opportunities, entrepreneurship and an improved economy.
FunDza’s programmes are directed at teens and young adults (13 to 25 years) from low-income communities across SA. Its vision is to contribute to the growth of educated, empowered and engaged young citizens and future leaders.
FunDza’s programmes inspire a love of reading by celebrating local stories and talent, to which readers can easily relate; and, create opportunities for self‐expression through writing. For it is only when people see reading as something that is meaningful and relevant to their lives that reading becomes important and young people start to identify as ‘readers’.
FunDza’s approach is innovative and integrated: the three programmes work together to help break down the barriers to reading and writing. These include: access to books, which are unaffordable to the vast majority of South Africans and which are not easily available due to under-resourced public and school libraries; a lack of engaging and relevant content, specifically to the average young South African growing up in townships or other low‐income communities; and, the ‘pull’ of competing technologies, such as cellphones and television, which reduce the amount of time people tend to spend reading.
FunDza runs three main outreach programmes:
Growing Communities of Readers: FunDza has a fully functional and growing mobi‐library that is currently accessed by more than 350 000 registered readers. The mobi network includes Mxit portal and mobi site. Each week FunDza publishes a new specially commissioned short story, set in a familiar SA environment, with recognisable characters and themes. These short stories – written by many of SA’s top authors – are released in serialised format (a new chapter each day). The mobi network enjoys ±40 000 page views per day – translating into a collective 45 000 hours of reading a month. Discussion questions at the end of chapters help to draw readers into the stories, get them to discuss what is going to happen and reflect on the story’s relevance to their own life or past experiences. This all happens at no cost to the reader.
A fan, Lee Moiloa, says: “Wow…This story, ‘Letters to Jane,’ has made me appreciate life more. It’s great. Made me grateful for all I have, even the smallest things that I thought didn’t matter.”
Popularising Reading: FunDza aims to make reading books possible for many young people from poor communities with little access to print material. This book distribution programme currently reaches more than 164 registered beneficiary groups nationwide. Books include the popular titles in the Harmony High Series, about a group of teens attending a fictional township high school). Beneficiary groups include: the rural schools supported by the Rattray Foundation, LEAP Science and Maths Schools, Ikamva Youth groups, loveLife groups and many others countrywide.
Since September 2011, FunDza has delivered more than 10 000 books. Feedback shows that the books are sparking a love of reading and that each book is read by at least five individuals within a four‐month period.
Developing Young writers: FunDza not only wants to develop a love of reading, but it wants to develop young aspirant writers too. The organisation does this through writing workshops as well as by encouraging its mobi network readers to submit their own writing for publication. FunDza edits and mentors the young writers to get their work published in the ‘FunDza Fanz’ section of the mobi network. Currently more than 150 young people have had their work showcased.
See this comment from FunDza Fan writer, Ntokozo Sibenko, who persevered to submit his story by cellphone: “To all FunDza fans – Thank you guys for your comments and it feels good to know that there are people who understand what I went through. I promise to write another story. God bless you guys!”
The fourth programme is the foundation for all FunDza’s outreach programmes:
Building for sustainable impact: FunDza is keen to not only have an impact now but to grow its influence and continue to have an impact in the future. The organisation could not do this without the necessary systems to manage the outreach work and the financial support to back it up. FunDza also recognises the importance of marketing so that its brand starts to grow wide support and that it develops the partnerships needed for long‐term sustainable growth.
FunDza’s funding base continues to grow with supporters like the Nussbaum Foundation, the Indigo Trust, The Anglo American Chairman's Fund and Media24, joining its initial funders, the DG Murray Trust, the Claude Leon Foundation and the Learning Trust. It has also begun to develop small income streams both from the content that it commission and from advertising revenue.
Creating great content remains key to FunDza’s success – and comments received from the many committed readers confirm that FunDza is achieving this goal. FunDza is working to grow its readership as well as deepen its engagement with existing Fanz.“
Another fan, Sizwe says: “What a story. Thank u very much FunDza u really making difference in us. Waiting for other positive stories.”
FunDza is looking to partner with organisations that also work with young South Africans (13‐25 years) from under‐resourced communities in order to spread the word about its work and mobi library initiative. FunDza would also like to build relationships with organisations that share their belief that developing literacy and growing a culture of reading will have a positive impact on the lives of young people and the prospects for SA as a country.
* The FunDza Literacy Trust was founded in April 2011. It is a registered nonprofit organisation and public benefit organisation with section 18A status. FunDza is proud to have been listed as one of Fast Company’s Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Education in the world for 2013.
To view the FunDza Literacy Trust in the Prodder NGO Directory, click here.
