Minister Gwarube champions early literacy in AVBOB’s campaign
With a focus on linguistic diversity and community upliftment, AVBOB’s campaign aims to make quality educational resources accessible to children in need across the country.
“If you lay the foundations right, literacy and numeracy become second nature, and children are empowered for lifelong learning,” said the Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube.
Gwarube said these words at the announcement of 1 000 beneficiaries of the 2025 Avbob Road to Literacy campaign, in collaboration with Oxford University Press South Africa (Oupsa).
The campaign is a nationwide trolley library initiative that continues to improve access to books in communities across South Africa, with a focus on schools and non-profit organisations.
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Held at Sandton Hotel on May 29, the event celebrated the allocation of 1 000 trolley libraries to schools and non-profit organisations nationwide.
Gwarube underscored the importance of foundational learning, noting that efforts should focus on early childhood development from birth to age four.
“We tend to focus more on matriculants and getting good results, and that’s why in this seventh administration, we decided that one of our key priorities is to strengthen the foundations of learning, literacy and numeracy from a young age,” she said.
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“We need resources, time, and energy to ensure children can read and they know how to read for meaning even before they reach Grade 1.
“And so for me, that is an incredible partnership and, again, an example of what can be done when we, as corporate partners, as social partners, as government, work together.”
The project responds directly to ongoing challenges in foundational literacy and numeracy, especially in under-resourced communities.
Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls executive director Gugu Ndebele said, “Education is the most powerful tool for changing a learner’s future. Literacy unlocks confidence, agency, and opportunity,” emphasising the transformative power of access to books in a child’s mother tongue.
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The campaign’s impact goes beyond simply distributing books; it symbolises hope and dignity for communities where resources are scarce.
The initiative also uniquely integrates materials that promote both reading for enjoyment and numeracy skills, addressing a critical gap in early childhood education.
Speaking on the growth of the project, Carl van der Riet, the CEO of Avbob Group, highlighted that despite expanding significantly since its inception in 2022 from 180 trolleys to 1 000, the campaign remains rooted in its core purpose: To provide access to quality educational materials, dignity, and hope for a better future.
“Literacy and numeracy are academic skills and critical tools for participation, for opportunity, and dignity,” he said.
“They are the building blocks of future learning and how children are empowered to shape their own lives.”
Oupsa managing director Karen Simpson said this partnership reflected the organisation’s core belief that literacy was a foundation for lifelong learning and opportunity.
“Access to books in a learner’s mother tongue has a profound impact on their ability to grasp foundational concepts, stay engaged in the classroom, and remain in the education system,” she said.
“We are steadfast on publishing our books in all of South Africa’s official written languages, and the Avbob Road to Literacy campaign enables us to place these resources directly in the hands of the learners who need them most.”
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