More than 770 million people worldwide still lack basic literacy skills, and hundreds of millions of children are growing up without access to the books they need to learn and thrive. Literacy is more than reading; it’s the foundation for opportunity, dignity, and equality. Every story a child opens is a door to possibility.

At unconnected.org, we are proud to be part of the movement working to change this reality. Together with NABU and Project Isizwe, we recently piloted the NABU Digital Reading Program at Ikaya Primary School in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Our Digital Reading Program, designed by NABU’s Director of Education, Judith Paredes, is a daily reading initiative that uses refurbished devices generously provided by GSM Systems to give learners access to NABU’s beautifully illustrated content in isiXhosa and isiZulu. This means children can now enjoy stories in the languages they speak and understand at home, a critical step in building confidence, comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading.
“I love reading stories in my own language. Now I can read every day, even at home!” – Sanele, Grade 4 learner.

Over the past year, Siobhan Thatcher and I have been working tirelessly to bring this vision to life. The excitement is palpable: our team recently hosted six incredible teachers who have already begun reading with their students, and the energy in the classroom was inspiring.

“Seeing my students so engaged with the stories is incredible. These devices are helping them enjoy reading in a way I’ve never seen before.” – Ms. Ndlovu, Grade 5 teacher.

For many learners at Ikaya, this is the first time they’ve held a digital library in their hands. These devices are more than just a reading tool, they are a gateway to imagination, exploration, and opportunity.
“I didn’t think I could read long stories before, but now I can finish a book on my own. I feel proud!” – Thandi, Grade 3 learner.

Our goals are ambitious. We aim to reach 150,000 children across South Africa with mother-tongue stories that spark joy, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading. Every child deserves the chance to open a book, explore a story, and imagine the possibilities that lie ahead.

We are deeply grateful to NABU, Project Isizwe, GSM Systems, fibertime™, and the dedicated educators at Ikaya Primary School for making this milestone possible. Together, we are showing that reading, technology, and opportunity can go hand in hand—and that when books are in children’s hands, the world truly opens up.

Because when children can read, they can dream bigger, learn more, and shape their own futures.