Grassroots handover tackles crisis where 8 in 10 learners can’t read for meaning
Johannesburg: As South Africa recognises National Literacy Month, Johannesburg has become the second province to receive books through a Read with Wimpy and Ladles of Love literacy initiative, with 1,200 brand-new multilingual, multicultural storybooks now in the hands of young learners in need across the region.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. The 2025 Thrive by Five Index findings released this week paint a stark picture of inequality and the urgent need to strengthen early learning – revealing that less than half of preschool children are meeting developmental milestones.
A key challenge remains the lack of books in households. Among enrolled children, only 11% of families reported having more than five children’s books at home, while 26% had none. For non-enrolled children, the figure was worse, with 77% of caregivers reporting no children’s books at all.
The collaboration between the Read with Wimpy Initiative and Ladles of Love forms part of the non-profit organisations “Advancing Education through Nutrition Roadshow,” using the NPO’s established network across underserved communities to facilitate mother-tongue reading at early childhood development (ECD) level.
With 81% of Grade 4 learners nationwide unable to read for meaning according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS 2021), the Northern Cape initiative addresses the urgent need for accessible, culturally relevant reading materials in under-resourced communities.
Ladles of Love, which has served over 48 million meals since March 2020, brings proven community relationships and distribution capabilities to the literacy initiative. “With the right fuel for their bodies and the right tools for their minds, we’re ensuring that no child is left behind due to the circumstances of their birth,” says Yolanda Jones, Ladles of Love programme director.
Seventeen Johannesburg centres receive handovers
Ladles of Love, in partnership with Wimpy, spread joy and hope across Johannesburg as part of their ongoing Literacy Roadshow, gifting over 1,200 brand-new books to just over 600 children across 17 early childhood development centres.
The participating centres, located in some of the city’s most underserved areas — including Soweto, Rosettenville, Midrand, Diepsloot, Orange Farm, Mamelodi, and Alexandra — face high levels of poverty and illiteracy, where access to quality books is almost non-existent. For many children, this was their very first experience holding a brand-new book of their own.
Each child receives two carefully selected books – one in their mother tongue to build foundational reading skills and cultural identity, and another in English to prepare them for future academic and professional success.
The excitement was infectious — Parents picking up their kids from the centre during the handovers were equally moved, many sharing how precious it was for their little ones to finally have books that are not torn or second-hand, but brand new.
The Literacy Roadshow not only provided books but also hosted an engaging workshop for principals and educators.
“Before we had to worry about where we would get food from, now our children consistently get two nutritious meals a day and now, on top of food abundance, you come with two books for every child, that is more than we can ever hope for. We have everything we need to make sure these little ones succeed,” says Mama Naomi Xashiva, Principal of Daffodils in Water School.
National impact, local delivery
The Johannesburg handover continues the provincial rollout of a 6,000-book donation spanning three provinces, following the successful Northern Cape distribution. Western Cape distributions are scheduled to follow soon.
“It was through our children’s campaigns over the years that we realised the severity of the literacy crisis,” says Jodi Law, Wimpy brand manager. “We noticed that there was a growing need for children to read relatable books, preferably written in their home language.”
