The FunDza Literacy Trust

Reading is the fundamental pillar of education. Education is the foundation of a healthy, stable, growth-oriented society. The FunDza Literacy Trust is a non-profit organisation dedicated towards growing educated, engaged and empowered young South Africans. It aims to boost literacy among teens and young adults in South Africa by popularising reading; growing communities of readers; and, developing young writing talent.

FunDza achieves this by providing content that will get young people hooked on reading. Our books and stories are exciting, relevant and authentically South African. In addition, FunDza leverages the powerful reach of mobile technology to connect and interact with readers in innovative ways.

FunDza’s approach is getting teens and young adults reading. Currently, the organisation works with more than 130 groups that collectively reach more than 130,000 young people and it has grown a “virtual” reading club of more than 350,000 active readers through its mobi network that includes a Mxit portal. It has also hosted four Write4Life creative writing courses for 50 young aspirant writers from Gugulethu, Makhaza, Nyanga, Masiphumelele, Mbekweni and Nyanga.

The more that young people read and are exposed to literature, the faster they will acquire the language skills necessary for both academic and professional achievement in later life.

Literacy is a powerful tool with lifelong benefits: the importance of reading cannot be underestimated in influencing choices, giving value to readers’ lives, enhancing critical and creative thinking and encouraging personal development. Literacy is a major driver of economic mobility and social upliftment.

Join FunDza in getting young South Africans reading!