Reading is an essential building block of learning that expands the knowledge of young children. More than that, it can help to power a child’s imagination, help them understand the vast and ever-changing world around them, and most importantly, it forms the basis of a brighter future.
Unfortunately, a large number of Africa’s children do not have the ability to explore the wonders that await them within the written word. Africa has been facing a reading crisis for over a decade, and because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it only seems to be worsening.
A study conducted by the ONE campaign shows that over half the world's 10-year-olds could be unable to read by the end of 2021, with Africa’s children in particular set to struggle the most.