Magic Through Books

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When excited children open their Santa Shoeboxes this year, they’ll unwrap the gift of reading thanks to Book Dash, Santa Shoebox and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet.

This year we’re bringing a little extra magic to children across South Africa. Book Dash, Santa Shoebox and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet have partnered to bring 100 000 books to children who receive Santa Shoeboxes this year.

This collaboration comes at a time when many children living in under-resourced communities have even less access to reading materials, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. And research shows that owning and having books in the home is a high-impact, cost-effective and immediate way to give children a tangible and measurable advantage at school, and in life.

This year also also marks momentous milestones for the Santa Shoebox Project and Book Dash — each distributing their one millionth Santa Shoebox and book.

“Education has been a cornerstone of our programme since its inception. We are extremely proud to be able to provide educational and recreational books of the highest quality to these young children through this collaborative effort,” says Pieter Twine, General Manager of MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet.

Book Dash’s innovative model presents partner organisations with the opportunity to fund a Book Dash event — a 12-hour sprint that sees volunteer creative teams write, illustrate, design and edit books at no cost.

The Santa Shoebox Project signs up organisations that care for underprivileged children to receive Santa Shoeboxes for the children in their care. Along with their book, each box includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, washcloth and soap (instilling a sense of pride in children who often don’t have access to any of these items), school stationery (to set them up for the year ahead), a toy and sweets, and an outfit of clothing that helps relieve the financial load on parents.