AVBOB has opened nominations for the fifth year of its Road to Literacy campaign, partnering with Oxford University Press Southern Africa (OUPSA) to donate a record 2 000 trolley libraries to primary schools and education-focused non-profit organisations across South Africa.
The 2026 campaign, running from 19 January to 31 March, invites members of the public to nominate schools and education NPOs that would benefit from mobile trolley libraries, each containing 500 CAPS-aligned books designed to foster a lifelong love of reading among young learners.
“Year five is our most ambitious to date. Two thousand trolley libraries mean additional one million books in the hands of young readers,” says Nakedi Pilane, executive director of business development and financial services at AVBOB. “We have seen how a single trolley can change the energy of a classroom and the confidence of a learner.”
We’re committed to publishing in all 11 official written languages, and this campaign helps us get those books directly into the hands of learners who need them most.
The initiative represents a doubling of the 2025 commitment, which saw 1 000 trolley libraries distributed. This expansion constitutes an investment of R115 million, with each library valued at approximately R57 500.
Karen Simpson, managing director at OUPSA expressed her enthusiasm for the campaign’s continued growth. “Speaking to educators who’ve received trolleys has shown me just how transformative this initiative is.
“We’re committed to publishing in all 11 official written languages, and this campaign helps us get those books directly into the hands of learners who need them most.”
Four years of impact
Since its launch in 2022, the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign has made substantial inroads into addressing South Africa’s literacy challenges. The programme supports early-grade reading by providing mobile trolley libraries that align with the CAPS curriculum, offering teachers versatile, ready-to-use classroom resources whilst giving learners regular access to age-appropriate books.
To date, the initiative has achieved significant milestones: approximately 4 000 trolley libraries have been donated to schools and education NPOs nationwide, distributing 1 966 000 books through 29 525 nominations submitted by communities. The total investment has reached R227 million.’Nominate to Educate’ Process.
This initiative gives the public a unique opportunity to help address South Africa’s literacy crisis and support their local schools.
The nomination process, dubbed “Nominate to Educate,” welcomes participation from parents, teachers, principals, learners, alumni, community members, and NPOs. Eligible nominees include underserviced public primary schools and education-focused NPOs that demonstrate both need and commitment to improving literacy in their communities.
“Access to books in a learner’s mother tongue improves reading for meaning at formative stages, classroom engagement and contributes towards retention of learners through their school career. This initiative gives the public a unique opportunity to help address South Africa’s literacy crisis and support their local schools by simply spending a few minutes submitting a nomination,” adds Simpson.
Each nomination undergoes careful review to ensure fair and impactful selection, with full eligibility criteria and timelines available on the AVBOB Road To Literacy website.
Broader literacy investment
The Road to Literacy campaign forms part of AVBOB’s wider literacy investments, including the AVBOB Container Library programme, which converts shipping containers into fully equipped libraries serving learners and communities. “Our commitment to literacy extends beyond donation. It’s about creating a lasting change through initiatives that work,” adds Pilane. “Through the AVBOB Road To Literacy campaign, we are able to reach schools that often lack resources, helping to nurture a generation of readers who can imagine and achieve more.”
Nominations can be submitted at https://bit.ly/4sJLVZ2 until 31 March 2026.
