In its efforts to make a positive impact on society and transform lives, AFRICAN SUN MeDIA is leading a project to provide free readers to be used for teaching children in the townships neighbouring Stellenbosch that are mired in poverty. The main objective is to break the cycle of poverty that has been gripping these communities for generations. The chosen path to do this is by promoting literacy, maths and science skills.

We would like to urge the academic and student bodies of Stellenbosch University to volunteer and become our foot soldiers in this war against poverty and illiteracy on this very important day in the international calendar – Mandela Day. Mandela famously said, “A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination, but when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special."

In partnership with Stellenbosch University, that will render volunteer students and tutors to roll out the campaign, AFRICAN SUN MeDIA will devise, design and print these readers so that the disadvantaged learners can effectively address the literacy crisis that is endemic.

“The initiative has been launched today, July 18th, to honour a great South African on what would have been his 101st birthday, but will be a sustainable and ongoing partnership between AFRICAN SUN MeDIA and Stellenbosch University," says Nirode Bramdaw, Managing Director of AFRICAN SUN MeDIA.

Koos Ligtenberg, Divisional Director of Bytes Document Solutions, states, “We are delighted to partner with AFRICAN SUN MeDIA on this very noble endeavour that seeks to change the lives of the less fortunate in society. To this end, we will provide AFRICAN SUN MeDIA with printing for their philanthropic efforts. This will complement our co-sponsors who have kindly donated paper for the project."

“Aside from its core objective of combatting poverty via literacy, this initiative by AFRICAN SUN MeDIA brings together the various and varying efforts of the faculties within the university so that the impact we make, will be targeted and sustainable," says Dr Gillian Arendse, Deputy Director, Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice.

Students, tutors and academics, who would like to participate in the programme, can reach out via social media channels or e-mail.

Caption: Launching the AFRICAN SUN MeDIA's Township Reader Campaign (TRC) for Mandela Day with Stellenbosch University's Dr Gillian Arendse, Deputy Director, Centre for Student Recruitment and Career Advice, Nelda Titus, an AFRICAN SUN MeDIA manager and philanthropist, Koos Ligtenberg, Divisional Director of Bytes Document Solutions and AFRICAN SUN MeDIA's MD Nirode Bramdaw.