Book Dash is thrilled to have been announced as the winner of the 2021 Nedbank Private Wealth Innovation Awards!
Book Dash was selected from among 150 organisations that applied, many of whom do really important work in the field, so we are humbled and grateful to be the winners.
Here’s what Nedbank had to say:
“Book Dash believes that every child should own 100 books by the age of five, and that this will uplift these children and eventually our society as a whole. Its innovative publishing model reduces the costs of publishing by approximately 80%, which means that it can offer books to donors and partners at R10 a copy. Book Dash was not deterred by the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic – in fact, 2020 marked the distribution of their one millionth book.
Book Dash has meticulously recorded its innovative model for book publishing from the onset so that other organisations can publish their books in the same way. Under the strict lockdown conditions, Book Dash decided to move its book-publishing model online, adapting to a virtual environment that allows volunteers from all over the country and the world to participate. They added this new model to their Manual so that others could iterate on this approach. There have been at least 10 instances of organisations using the Book Dash model to publish new books.
In addition to continuing with its innovative content creation methods, Book Dash collaborated with its distribution partners to donate books to families that were receiving food parcels and learning packs through these partners.”
The judges were also particularly impressed with our bold vision, lead by a lean team with low operating overheads and yet significant and sustained growth in impact year on year. They noted that the presence of reserve funds demonstrates efficient financial management and a resilient organisation that is ready to continue making a difference in the future.
The application process for the awards was great, with a well-constructed application form that allowed organisations to unpack the different elements of their work, and demonstrate their innovations and the rationale behind it. The feedback from the judging panel was also insightful and encouraging.
Nedbank’s recognition of the work we do at Book Dash, and of course the prize money, is appreciated by the whole organisation – staff, Board members, partners and beneficiaries alike. Their support for civil society organisations is incredibly valuable. With their help, we look forward to flooding the country with beautiful, fun, affordable African children’s books.
Read the press release from Nebank for more context and information: https://www.nedbankprivatewealth.co.za/content/private-wealth-sa/south-africa/en/info/innovation-winners-2021.html
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