Puku partnered with Turn on the Subtitles (ToTS) an initiative aimed at getting parents to read with children.
Indefatiguable Programme lead, Su Little, says “We’re on a mission to transform childhood literacy through technology!
The TOTS campaign unites digital innovation and community networks to significantly raise awareness about this simple yet effective action, aiming to eradicate childhood illiteracy, foster educational success, and potentially combat unemployment at its root.”
Puku Executive director, Elinor Sisulu laid bare the reality of the Country’s reading crisis with the frightening fact that less than 2% of books published for children are in our local languages.
She continued, “This means millions of children are growing up without books in their mother tongue. At Puku, we’re changing that.”
Puku, alongside the ‘Turn On The Subtitles’ campaign, is tackling South Africa’s literacy crisis head-on. By providing access to quality children’s books in local languages, and running workshops for teacher trainees, Puku is giving children the tools they need to succeed
From the Puku network of Volunteers, Zanele Ndlovu was selected to participate in this initiative being a natural story-teller and performer. Zanele was listed as one of the top 200 young South Africans by the influential Mail & Guardian newspaper. the following is a reflection on participating in the ToTS advocacy campaign, in her own words.
TOTS is a project that turns screen time into reading time by adding subtitles. It uses modern technology to get children into the world of literature. PUKU is a good partner to TOTS because it also promotes children’s literature through digital technologies, especially in South African languages.
I am a storyteller and an Author of children’s books which I wrote in my mother tongue, isiZulu and my books come with audio books CDs. What I brought in this campaign is my expertise in the work that I have been doing throughout the years of promoting reading and telling stories, using indigenous instruments as a canvas to tell my stories. I also came with my 2 year old twin boys whom I started introducing them to the world of literature from when they were still in my womb, by reading them stories. They brought their experience with books and how they relate to them, which also added magic into the shoot.
I was introduced to Su Little by the Executive director of PUKU children’s literature Foundation, Dr Elinor Sisulu. The TOTS campaign represented PUKU very well because we were able to talk about the work that we do by preserving indigenous languages and we also got a chance to promote the only book published in the N/uu language by Ouma Katrina Essay, which a lot of people don’t even know that it exists.
The most exciting thing for us about this whole experience, was the venue in Pinelands Biblionef. We were so happy to see so many children’s books in all languages. My boys had access to those beautiful pop up books and a lot of educational toys.
The whole experience was new for me and the twins because it was our first time working together professionally. It was their first time in Cape Town and on a flight. It was a wonderful educational trip which was like some type of a working holiday as well.
The Cape Town team was great, starting with Biblionef. They were very professional, when we got there everything was ready and they gave us the best treatment. They were very helpful and simply amaaaaaaaazing.
Working with Caylin Kirsten from TOTS was also one of hhe greatest highlights. She was the one behind the camera at the shoot. She made sure that I was comfortable with my children and she was very patient, as you may know that shoots usually take time and it’s even worse when 2 year old are involved.
Parents should encourage their children to read subtitles because this will help them to improve their reading and the spelling of words. It will also make Screen time educational by including literature in digital platforms, as we have come to realize that our children are consumed by technology nowadays. This will then make it easy for the children to identify some of the words they have learnt through subtitles when they see them in a book.