It will also enable the value retail giant to give back to its communities in the most sustainable and long-term way – nurturing a love for reading and learning in the next generation of leaders.

Through specialised literacy development partners, Nal’ibali and Wordworks, Ackermans will assist both parents and teachers from 13 local crèches and schools, with literacy and numeracy skills that will enable them to further develop their children’s early language and literacy learning while at home or at play.

Speaking at the launch of the orientation day held on Saturday, 24 January, in Belhar, Cape Town, Sean Cardinaal, MD of Ackermans, says that this initiative is one that the entire company is excited and very passionate about – especially because it is an opportunity that embodies the philosophy of Ububele’s meaning: kindness and generosity.

“In the 98 years of our presence in South Africa, Ackermans’ purpose for our communities, employees and our customers, has been to bring value to life. We live in a time where our children consume information in short, 140-character updates; television; radio and the net. Through Ackermans Ububele Schools, we will be addressing the challenge of declining literacy and reading levels by nurturing and encouraging children to explore new worlds through stories, books, reading and literature.”

“Ackermans Ububele Schools is an opportunity for us and our partners, Nal’ibali and Wordworks; to entrench a culture of storytelling and reading and consequently develop an appreciation for education and learning. We are proud to put our passion for our communities and our customers behind this initiative, and are looking forward to the results as we continue through the year,” concludes Cardinaal.

Ackermans’ Ububele Schools has partnered with 13 schools in the Western Cape where the introduction of new literacy programmes, including Storyplay, Nal’ibali’s latest literacy approach for very young children, and donations of stationery and classroom upgrades will help to make these schools fun, engaging and interactive learning environments – through schoolwork and play. The initiative’s official launch will be held in May, where the schools will be able to showcase their results, progress, learnings and additional initiatives implemented since today’s orientation day.