Page 14 - IFV Issue 7 August 2025

Lifestyle

struggling to read for meaning.
Additionally, only 2% of children’s
books published commercially in
South Africa are in local African
languages, despite eight out of ten
people speaking a home language
other than English or Afrikaans.

PAMSA and Book Dash
To be part of the solution, PAMSA has
announced its support of the Book
Dash 2025 campaign, an initiative that
aims to make books more accessible to
young readers. Book Dash has already
distributed over 4.5 million books to
children across South Africa, and creates
books in multiple local languages.
Dorette Louw, director of programmes
and operations at Book Dash, says
that according to National Reading
Barometer 2023, the vast majority of
South African adults agree that reading
to children before they can talk helps She adds that physical, hard copy compared to 7.4 % who opt for tablets
them learn, but unfortunately only books at home can provide that nudge or e-readers. Importantly, 57.6 % of
about a third of parents actually read in a way that that digital books cannot. respondents strongly disagree with the
with children aged six and under. This is why Book Dash is working hard to statement that ‘print is dead’.
Louw explains that just like other increase book ownership in homes, and Molony says that paper books
healthy lifestyle habits such as eating why the support from organisations like play a vital role in early childhood
well and exercising, there’s a gap PAMSA is crucial. development and literacy, and create
between awareness and action. Even Paper-based books remain popular a stronger educational foundation.
when parents know it’s important to among readers, with the survey Research consistently shows that paper-
share books with pre-verbal children, showing that 34. 7 % of respondents based materials promote better reading
they need a nudge to actually do it. prefer physical books for leisure reading, comprehension and information
retention compared to digital formats.
This is particularly important for
developing brains.
Both Book Dash and PAMSA goals
promote literacy and sustainable
paper usage. Paper books are not only
renewable and recyclable, but can easily
be shared and passed along, extending
their impact within communities.
Through initiatives such as the Book
Dash partnership, PAMSA aims to help
address the book access gap in South
Africa and contribute to improving
literacy rates, particularly among young
readers who need exposure to books in
their early developmental years.
Issued by Media Portal on behalf of the
Paper Manufacturers Association of South
Africa

12 • August 2025 • The Villager