Vodacom launches e-reader programme

Vodacom and Read A Book SA has launched an e-reader programme to advance literacy development, one of the most critical elements in the education value chain, by installing an e-reader application on 45 tablets which will be freely available at the nine Vodacom ICT resource centres.

This will enable learners and community members to read e-books at the centres.

"Our aim is to use our technology to help make a difference in the communities where our customers live," says Maya Makanjee of Corporate Affairs at Vodacom. "Access to reading material is a major challenge in South Africa. As many learners do not have access to libraries and reading material, Vodacom together with Read A Book SA believes that we can help address this problem by broadening access to literacy in this way."

Regular updating

CEO of Read A Book SA, Tebogo Ditshego says only 15% of South Africans have access to a nearby library. "This initiative will play a role in addressing this problem by creating access to literature for the communities around Vodacom's ICT centres nationwide. The tablets will be updated with reading material regularly to ensure that visitors have constant access to new reading material."

The tablets will be loaded with e-books in the genres of African literature, history, business/entrepreneurship and fiction, amongst others.To further encourage a culture of literacy, visitors at the ICT resource centres will be able to download the e-books to a memory stick or to their cell phones.