"With already 60 000 subscribers to their app, we look forward to now engaging and motivating these users to make regular use of the content so as to drive and support behaviour change".
Get your own 'digital library card' on Mxit with Nal'ibali.
The Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign has joined forces with Mxit Reach to launch a new and improved app to put children’s stories and literacy tips into the hands of even more South African caregivers and their children.
This International Literacy Day, Monday September 8, children can look forward to walking a path to educational success by being able to access regular stories with literacy tips and support via the Mxit social networking platform from any smart or feature phone.
Reports show that even though 51% of homes in the country don’t have access to leisure books and 85% of the population live beyond the reach of a public library - what South Africans do have, is a cellphone, (with mobile penetration now over 100% in the country) says Carole Bloch, Director of the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA), which is driving the Nal’ibali campaign.
She adds: "By harnessing this tidal wave of mobile communication technology use in our country, we hope to get even more adults reading and enjoying stories with their children so it becomes part of their daily lives.
“Research shows that being told stories and being read to at home are the things most likely to help make children successful learners at school.
Stories, particularly when read or heard in home languages, help children develop their language skills and imagination as well as their thinking and problem-solving skills.
“There is a tendency for parents to engage less with their children around E-books and other forms of digital content. Language and literacy skills are best developed in the discussion and engagement that takes place when caregivers and young ones share a story together – and this includes the sharing of stories found on digital devices,” explains Bloch.
What to expect from the app:
Caregivers can sign-up up together with children to receive a story or motivational tip in a language of their choice.
There will be a library just for you to access at any time; audio stories for you to listen to (particularly useful in daycare or ECD settings); fun literacy quizzes and the opportunity to be part of a virtual reading club where you can share your reviews.
Cool huh? We think so...
And while you are enjoying the literacy app, the team at Nal'ibali are busy working on a multilingual rhyme library for use with babies and very young children, as well as an ‘Ask the Experts’ feature, where you can submit reading and writing questions for the Nal’ibali literacy expert.
60 000 people are already subscribed to the app. To download and enjoy reading with your loved ones this literacy day, go to m.mxit.com > go to Apps > then search for Nalibali and download.
Sowetan LIVE strongly supports the Nal'ibali initiative, so please share your experience with us on this platform. The guys at Nal'ibali would love to hear from you.
How awesome is this new Mxit app from Nal'ibali..?
"With already 60 000 subscribers to their app, we look forward to now engaging and motivating these users to make regular use of the content so as to drive and support behaviour change".
Get your own 'digital library card' on Mxit with Nal'ibali.
The Nal’ibali reading-for-enjoyment campaign has joined forces with Mxit Reach to launch a new and improved app to put children’s stories and literacy tips into the hands of even more South African caregivers and their children.
This International Literacy Day, Monday September 8, children can look forward to walking a path to educational success by being able to access regular stories with literacy tips and support via the Mxit social networking platform from any smart or feature phone.
Reports show that even though 51% of homes in the country don’t have access to leisure books and 85% of the population live beyond the reach of a public library - what South Africans do have, is a cellphone, (with mobile penetration now over 100% in the country) says Carole Bloch, Director of the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA), which is driving the Nal’ibali campaign.
She adds: "By harnessing this tidal wave of mobile communication technology use in our country, we hope to get even more adults reading and enjoying stories with their children so it becomes part of their daily lives.
“Research shows that being told stories and being read to at home are the things most likely to help make children successful learners at school.
Stories, particularly when read or heard in home languages, help children develop their language skills and imagination as well as their thinking and problem-solving skills.
“There is a tendency for parents to engage less with their children around E-books and other forms of digital content. Language and literacy skills are best developed in the discussion and engagement that takes place when caregivers and young ones share a story together – and this includes the sharing of stories found on digital devices,” explains Bloch.
What to expect from the app:
Caregivers can sign-up up together with children to receive a story or motivational tip in a language of their choice.
There will be a library just for you to access at any time; audio stories for you to listen to (particularly useful in daycare or ECD settings); fun literacy quizzes and the opportunity to be part of a virtual reading club where you can share your reviews.
Cool huh? We think so...
And while you are enjoying the literacy app, the team at Nal'ibali are busy working on a multilingual rhyme library for use with babies and very young children, as well as an ‘Ask the Experts’ feature, where you can submit reading and writing questions for the Nal’ibali literacy expert.
60 000 people are already subscribed to the app. To download and enjoy reading with your loved ones this literacy day, go to m.mxit.com > go to Apps > then search for Nalibali and download.
Sowetan LIVE strongly supports the Nal'ibali initiative, so please share your experience with us on this platform. The guys at Nal'ibali would love to hear from you.