Page 38 - Kyalami Issue 2 2025

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
BOOKS
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 distrib-
uted 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 accord-
ing to National Reading Barometer 2023,
the vast majority of South African adults
agree that reading to children before they
can talk helps them learn, but unfortunate-
ly only about a third of parents actually
read with children aged six and under.
Louw explains that just like other healthy
lifestyle habits such as eating well and exer-
cising, there’s a gap between awareness and
action. Even when parents know it’s import-
ant to share books with pre-verbal children,
THE VITAL they need a nudge to actually do it.

She adds that physical, hard copy books at
home can provide that nudge in a way that
ROLE OF that digital books cannot. This is why Book
Dash is working hard to increase book
ownership in homes, and why the support
PAPER BOOKS from organisations like PAMSA is crucial.
Paper-based books remain popular among
readers, with the survey showing that
34.7% of respondents prefer physical
he Paper Manufacturers Association books. This represents a slight positive books for leisure reading, compared to
of South Africa (PAMSA) has re- shift from 2022, when 80% of respon- 7.4% who opt for tablets or e-readers. Im-
Tleased findings from its 2024 survey dents said they owned 50 books or less, portantly, 57.6 % of respondents strongly
on book ownership, revealing that 31% of and only 8.6% owned more than 100. disagree with the statement that ‘print is
respondents own fewer than ten books. dead’.
However, access to books remains a signif- Executive director of PAMSA, Jane Molony,
icant challenge for many South Africans. says that while there is some improvement Molony says that paper books play a vital
in book ownership, the numbers still paint role in early childhood development and
The survey also found that about 67% of a concerning picture. Access to printed literacy, and create a stronger educational
respondents own 50 books or less, while books, particularly for young children, is foundation. Research consistently shows
17.4% reported crucial for developing literacy skills and that paper-based materials promote better
owning more fostering a reading culture. reading comprehension and information
than 100 retention compared to digital formats. This
The survey results come at is particularly important for developing
a critical time, as literacy brains.
rates in South Africa con-
tinue to face challeng- Both Book Dash and PAMSA goals promote
es of unequal early literacy and sustainable paper usage.
learning outcomes Paper books are not only renewable and
and extremely recyclable, but can easily be shared and
poor primary passed along, extending their impact with-
school literacy, in communities.
with nearly
80% of Grade Through initiatives such as the Book Dash
4 learners partnership, PAMSA aims to help address
struggling to the book access gap in South Africa and
read for mean- contribute to improving literacy rates, par-
ing. Addition- ticularly among young readers who need
ally, only 2% exposure to books in their early develop-
of children’s mental years.
books pub-
lished commer- ISSUED BY MEDIA PORTAL
cially in South ON BEHALF OF THE PAPER
Africa are in local MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION
African languages, OF SOUTH AFRICA
despite eight out

38 Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 2 • 2025