Data and its handsome cost has and continues to be the game-changer where access to online information is concerned. The poorest of the poor are left behind due to the lack of data, while those who are able to access online platforms move ahead. So, following the announcement of the lockdown, we had to sit down as a team and really think about creative and accessible ways to make reading and writing resources easily available. We knew that with the schools coming to an unexpected close due to social distancing measures to combat the spread of the Covid-19 virus, the normal routine of learning would be disturbed.
Our friends from Activate! Change Drivers ( an organisation existing to drive change for the public good in partnership with over 4000 young people across the country) approached us for an opportunity to be involved in a WhatsApp Webinar with them and other friends of literacy.
During the two hour long conversation, joined by 141 people, we responded to the following questions:
Question 1: “Who is FunDza and what challenges are you addressing?”
Question 2: “What is a zero rated or data free platform?”
question 3: “What virtual platforms has FunDza developed?”
Question 4: “Which activities can people do during this lockdown period to ensure that remote learning takes place?”
Our attempts in answering the above were warmly received with lots of follow-up questions and comments commending the work that we do. We can see that young people are in need and in search of online platforms that they can access without having to worry about data. This highlights the importance for government and network providers to carefully consider the benefits of zero rating of learning platforms offered by Public Benefit Organisations. See the DG Murray Trust article on zero rating learning platforms here.
Some of the comments and questions from the conversation were as follows:
“What brought us here today is that we have been seeing a lot of resources being shared for learners to aide learning remotely, however data remains a huge stumbling block. We are also not sure about these buzz words that are being used such as ‘zero rated and data free’ thus we are here to learn” – Mzandile Msimang from Activate!
“Hi, I work with young people at KSD TVET College in Mthatha and data is a huge challenge in the process of learning, I have invited my learners to join this conversation and to take advantage of the information shared here, thank you” – Zolisa Madikizela
“Is Moya Messenger (a #datafree app using reverse billing that can be used to access fundza.mobi at absolutely no cost to the user) only available on android phones only?” – Deb Avery from Literacy Association of South Africa
“Do you publish and accept English in multiple South African languages because we work in communities that do not have a strong command over the English” – Phumza Ndamase from Zero Dropout Campaign
From the level of engagement we received it was quite clear how zero rating learning platforms could benefit a large number of young people in South Africa and the availability thereof could be instrumental in igniting a revolution of teens and young adults who are readers and writers.
A synopsis of our responses and highlights from the webinar can be found on our Twitter handle here.
As a cellphone library, it is our wish to continue using online platforms to promote awareness and social change as well as providing young people with opportunities to write and rewrite their narratives through publishing their stories for free on fundza.mobi
We wish to thank Activate! Change Drivers and all who participated for the wonderful opportunity to engage and introduce people to our online library and WhatsApp reading platform.