McDonald’s South Africa understands that a child’s future can be significantly altered by something as simple as reading a book.
McDonald’s South Africa will embark on a mission to donate more than a million books to underprivileged schools and Early Childhood Development Centers nationwide beginning in September, which is Literacy Month.
In 2021, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study assessed the reading proficiency of 400,000 students worldwide. Out of 57 countries, South Africa was ranked last, with eight out of ten school-age children in the country finding it difficult to read by the age of ten. The study showed that 81% of South African children could not read for comprehension in any of the country’s eleven official languages.
“Our mission is to ensure all children, regardless of their background, can access the joy of reading,” stated Sechaba Motsieloa, Marketing Director at McDonald’s South Africa. In September, we will try our best to make sure that as many kids as possible have access to books in their schools to ignite a lifelong love of reading, working with wonderful charity partners like the Rugby Sevens Team, the National Library of South Africa, and the SABC, among others.”
As a business that values diversity and community development, McDonald’s South Africa has been including children’s books instead of toys with every McDonald’s Happy Meal purchase since 2019.
McDonald’s South Africa’s donation of over a million books to underprivileged schools is a significant contribution to education. For students, having access to books can significantly improve their learning and literacy prospects. In addition to promoting academic advancement, this kind of program cultivates a child’s love of reading, which can have long-term advantages.
Motsieloa concludes, “Organizations that care about the future of this country must contribute towards encouraging a love and culture of reading in light of the ongoing literacy crisis in South Africa.”
