At Book Dash, we know that we can’t do it alone – and we know that book distribution is more effective when it’s paired with some support.
That’s why we work with more than 150 organisations across South Africa to get our books to children and families.
When we link book ownership to existing programmes, books are more likely to be read, and our partners are better able to achieve their goals of improving literacy, early childhood development, parent support and health care.
Partnership allows us to scale effectively and cost-effectively: by focusing on what we do best, and helping others to do the same, we can have a greater collective impact on children’s cognitive and socio-emotional development.
See where all our books have gone on the map below, or read some case studies here.
Our distribution partners
The Book Dash partner network is dynamic: we regularly onboard more partners that share our values and can help us increase early book ownership.
Some of our partners are shown below, and all of them are included in the map above.
“Initially we questioned giving books away. However, an open mind, expert opinion, and first-hand experience soon convinced us of the enormous value of giving books ‘for-keeps’. The benefits are enormous. Reading and sharing stories helps build strong bonds, which allows for open conversations; stimulates thinking and language; and creates opportunities to discuss feelings and outcomes. Books are prized possessions. Valued and loved. Their very own.”
Thobani Ndlovu,
Khanyisela Projects
“Linking health to education resources is new for Bethesda, but our Occupational Therapy team found amazing teaching opportunities with babies, toddlers and young children, both in the ward and during clinic visits. They used the books to teach and engage: body awareness, visual perceptual skills, language development. The books are ideal to link the hospital-based interventions to home learning and take-home tasks.”
Jessica Ronaasen,
Bethesda Hospital
“Chosi-Chosi Book Club is for grades 2 to 7, but children as young as ages 0 to 5 received the books, and this made them believe now they are eligible to attend the book club. A week later, I arrived to a full class of toddlers with their books in hand. It was such a beautiful and funny sight to see because they looked so determined to be part of the book club, ready to read and learn.
When you’re handing out the books you pray that they reach one or two kids and change their lives. But when it transforms the whole neighbourhood then your efforts are rewarded with children who stop you at every corner, asking for more books to share with their friends at school and the whole of Philippi.”
Sindeka Mandoyi,
Chosi-Chosi Book Club
“We’ve seen how families creatively integrate reading into their routines. In some homes, siblings take turns reading aloud to each other, while in others, children are excited to retell the stories they’ve read in playgroups or schools to their families, reinforcing their comprehension and storytelling skills. [Parents commonly report that] these books have made reading a more accessible and enjoyable activity at home.”
Astrid Gifford,
LETCEE (Little Elephant Training Centre for Early Education)
“Crèche organisations are almost never in a position to buy reading materials for their children – and if they are, they would normally only buy one teacher copy which the children might not even touch. To be able to give out these books is such an essential part of the child’s educational development and we are so grateful to be involved.”
Alison Zikala,
Green Sparks Education
“Shhhh! is at the perfect level for the little ones I see: there is a dog that barks, a phone that rings, a truck that brmmms, a ball that bounces! It’s helping me both with children learning language and increasing vocabulary, and with my non-verbal ACC users (augmentative and alternative communicators) who are using pictures to communicate – I can match their own picture of a ball to the ball in the story… Excellent language stimulation opportunities all round!”
Jamie Sareli,
Speech Therapist,
Red Cross Cerebral Palsy Unit
Become a distribution partner
Our vision – that “every child should own a hundred books by the age of five” – is based on evidence that owning books from a young age supports children’s holistic development and improves their future prospects.
Rather than providing once-off book donations, or donations to libraries, Book Dash seeks long-term distribution partners who are eager to help young children build their own home libraries.
While most of our partners work in literacy, early childhood development, parenting and health care, we are open to others doing impactful work with children and families.
If you think that your organisation could qualify to become a distribution partner, fill in the form by clicking on the button below.