FunDza gets South African youth reading and writing for pleasure. We create, collect and share stories that ignite the imagination of youth from under-resourced communities.
FunDza invites reading groups to apply to join its ‘Popularising Reading’ programme. This programme is designed to support reading groups for teens and young adults across South Africa. Beneficiary groups can be schools, libraries, youth groups or reading clubs. Groups should identify a ‘Reading Champion’ – dedicated to the task of sharing the books and growing a culture of reading by improving literacy through reading for fun.
- FunDza donates sets of books that hook teen readers in and gets them coming back for more.
The stories are local and exciting and reflect the readers’ lives. The sets of books include the popular Harmony High series (published by Cover2Cover Books), a select number of other local titles and copies of the Big Ups! short story anthologies. Narratives are gripping and fast-paced and deal with teenage angst in a readable and accessible way. - FunDza provides a guide on how to use the books.
The books are usually used in one of the following ways: classroom lessons; reading groups; reading out aloud or in a lending programme and administration templates on ‘Best Practices’ for each of these systems. - FunDza provides a monthly newslettter to support the ‘Reading Champions’.
The newsletter shares tips and ideas about reading and notifying them of new books being launched and about stories available on http://fundza.mobi – ‘your library on a cellphone’.
To remain within the programme, ‘Reading Champions’ are required to complete formal surveys (once a year) and provide other informal feedback on the books, for example filling in short questionnaires, or sending in photos and responses by readers. Schools that wish to apply must either be government schools in quintiles 1, 2 or 3 or low-fee private schools. Small organisations and reading groups are also welcome to apply.
To join the #ReadingRevolution – complete the application form online here or email phoebe@fundza.co.za before 12 December 2014.
Students from Sekolo Sa Borokgo