Improving Literacy in Africa

We’re excited to share the latest progress as we continue to uplift and empower communities in Diepsloot.

Edu Fun's mission remains unchanged: to improve English literacy for learners in Grades 2 and 3 at Diepsloot Combined School (DCS) and other underserved schools in Diepsloot. Our ultimate goal? Empowering 70 local youth to teach 3,000 children annually to read for meaning, thereby fostering strong educational foundations and empowering whole communities.

Refined Results: Key Highlights from 2024
In 2024, we continued to see positive outcomes from prioritising local youth and training them to teach reading. By year-end, Grade 3 learners scored an average of 91% on our reading tests. This represents a remarkable improvement from their rudimentary knowledge of how to read in English a year earlier.

At DCS, our tutors worked with 200 learners in Grade 2 and 200 learners in Grade 3, slightly increasing from 2023 numbers. Additionally, we’ve expanded our reach to Diepsloot Primary School 4 (DPS4), focusing on 50 Grade 3 learners who progressed from our intervention last year.

Precious at DPS4
Precious, a former student of DPS4 and now the site lead, has taken the reins of this project. She is inspiring the next generation by improving literacy outcomes and pursuing a formal qualification in Education. Her leadership embodies the essence of Edu Fun's mission: empowering youth to drive sustainable change.

Building Leadership Through the Tutor Programme
Edu Fun's 2025 Tutor Programme consists of 12 tutors (8 returning, 4 new), including six who are now enrolled in formal education studies. As part of their ongoing professional development, EduFun supports the tutors with expert mentors and daily teaching opportunities to enable them to improve their skills while developing literacy in the Diepsloot community.

Our Wish List for 2025
We’ve updated our wish list to reflect both continuity and expansion:

• Sponsor 1 child to learn to read for 2025: $50 once off.
• Fund the Phono-Graphix certification of 1 tutor: $300 once-off.
• Support tutors pursuing education degrees: $1,000 annually per tutor.
• Fund monthly stipends for aspiring educators teaching 400 learners annually: $3,800 per annum.
• Food parcels for vulnerable families in Diepsloot: $35 for one month's groceries for an entire family. 

Every contribution is a step towards sustained literacy development and youth empowerment in Diepsloot.

Looking Forward: Scaling and Sustaining Impact
As we analyse results and fine-tune our interventions, our priority remains clear: replicating successful models, empowering youth, and increasing our reach. With continued support, we’ll scale our initiatives to further transform lives through literacy.

Thank You
Your support helps make lasting change possible. Let’s continue building a legacy of empowerment and opportunity for every child in Diepsloot.

Links:

• Edu Fun website
• Edu Fun Facebook page

Edu Fun’s Mission: Enhancing English Literacy in South Africa

At Edu Fun, our mission is to improve English literacy among young learners. We teach students in grades 2 and 3 at Diepsloot Combined School (DCS) in the informal settlement of Diepsloot, South Africa, as well as in other rural and township communities.

Empowering Youth to Transform Lives

Our ultimate goal in Diepsloot is to empower 70 local youth to teach 3,000 children to read across seven primary schools. This initiative requires a minimum of 10 youth placed at each school in Diepsloot. By ensuring that every Grade 2 and 3 learner has access to Phono-Graphix reading lessons in Diepsloot, we improve the chances of all learners reading with meaning by the time they are in Grade 4. We aim to build a strong foundation for future learning, uplift the entire community, and increase the likelihood of these children completing their education.

Successes in 2024

Our 2024 literacy programme, predominantly run by local youth from Diepsloot, concluded on a high note. Six Junior Tutors received a Phono-Graphix Tutor Certification, and two received their International Phono-Graphix Reading Therapy Certification.

Grade 3 learners, who will enter Grade 4 in 2025, achieved an average score of 91% on the reading assessment this year. Our tutors participated in the assessment and evaluation process, assisting with data capturing and learned about the importance of measurable data when reporting to schools and funders.

Collaborations and Community Impact

We have worked with another local school - Diepsloot Primary School 4 and we have partnered with Afrika Tikkun, another local charity, allowing our tutors to volunteer at a nearby centre. Afrika Tikkun tutors have also shadowed our tutors and programme at Diepsloot Combined, which has become a centre of excellence for training where best practices are shared to be replicated in other organisations and communities.

Additionally, two of our tutors had the opportunity to visit Cape Town for the first time.

Tutor Testimonial:

Bontle, a Junior Tutor, shares her experience: “The Edu Fun program has opened many doors for me since I started in February. From visiting different schools, meeting new people, and discovering new projects, the highlight was our collaboration with Read for Africa, which took me to Cape Town. Every Thursday, we teach learners at Afrika Tikkun in Diepsloot how to read. Visiting the Afrika Tikkun branch in Cape Town, we helped facilitators understand Phono-Graphix better, assessed learners, and taught classes while being observed. Thanks to the Edu Fun tutor program, we can reach and help many children read.”

Supporting Our Future Educators

We currently have six tutors pursuing a Bachelor of Education while continuing to tutor learners. They are at different stages of their courses, with two tutors completing their first semester in their first year who are preparing for their 3-week teaching experience schedled for February/March 2025 and three tutors have finishied their second year. One tutor is due to start her degree in February 2025 if we can raise enough funds to cover her tuition. 

Looking Ahead: Expanding Our Impact

For every new tutor enrolled in our program, 30 to 40 children will be able to participate and learn to read weekly. Our biggest expense is the monthly stipend for our local youth, covering their basic living expenses and, in some cases, their tuition to pursue a career in education.

Wish List for 2025

1. Sponsor a child to learn to read in 2025

   • Fee per child per year: $50

2. Sponsor a local youth to attend a Phono-Graphix Course

   • Course fee & certification: $300 (one-time payment)

3. Provide a scholarship for a Phono-Graphix Tutor to pursue a teaching career while continuing to teach at Diepsloot Combined School

   • Annual tuition fees: $1,000 per annum

4. Provide the above scholarship and a year's allowance for the tutor to earn a living while studying and teaching 40 children in their local community

   • Annual fees including the monthly stipend for 12 months: $3,800 per annum

Links:

• Edu Fun Website
• Edu Fun's Facebook page to view photos of recent events
• Information on teaching reading using Phono-Graphix