Masifunde GOGO!

Let’s Read GOGO!

Project Aim

Masifunde GOGO! is an intergenerational reading programme that aims to build a lifelong love of literacy at all ages. The project aims to promote literacy and reading skills, build intergenerational relationships, and enhances the mental well-being of gogos and the grandchildren they are raising.

What is Masifunde GOGO!

Masifunde GOGO!, a collaborative effort between goGOGOgo and Literacy4Life, aims to encourage literacy in youth by incorporating grandmothers (gogos) as literacy champions in their households. By working with gogos, and recognising their potential to influence their grandchildren’s early learning habits, access to books, curiosity and confidence, Masifunde GOGO! works to promote a culture of reading. The projects includes:

Family reading sessions: where gogos and grandchildren read to each other and connect through interactive stories, dramatic readings and conversations fuelled by imagination

Mini libraries: set up in community facilities and run by gogos, these mini libraries ensure lasting access to free books for local communities
Distribution of Book Dash books: with the launch of each mini library, gogos are gifted a set of Book Dash books to add to their home collection, ensuring their grandchildren can enjoy a variety of African storybooks locally written, illustrated and translated into all 11 official languages.

The Masifunde GOGO! project focuses on fostering a love for reading and literacy skills in children aged 0-13 years, by engaging gogos in interactive reading sessions and providing them with carefully selected literature to inspire imagination, enhance reading and language skills and promote cross-generation conversations.

On a small scale, the programme tackles the worrying illiteracy rates of South African children.