Literacy lives in every word, every page, every dream.
10th June, 2025
Together with the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation and The Bookery, we’re building libraries to inspire young minds through reading.
This Youth Month, Cotton On Foundation is proud to launch Beyond Words—a bold, national initiative created in partnership with the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation to help rewrite the literacy story for South African children.
Right now, 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning, and 78% of public schools are without libraries. These are staggering figures—but we see an opportunity for hope, action, and lasting change.
“Beyond Words is more than a campaign—it’s a long-term commitment to empower young minds through reading”
– Acanda Jaswa, Cotton On Foundation South Africa Manager.
Beyond Words aims to raise and invest R20 million into literacy-focused solutions that uplift learners, support educators, and strengthen school communities.
What the initiative will do:
- Build libraries in under-resourced schools
- Provide locally written, culturally relevant children’s books
- Train teachers in reading instruction and library management
- Deliver access to literacy software and digital tools
- Offer long-term support to ensure sustained impact
With over a decade of experience improving access to education globally, Cotton On Foundation is proud to build on its legacy in South African. A legacy that includes the construction and ongoing support of schools in KwaZulu-Natal and numerous youth empowerment projects nationwide.
Our implementation partner, The Bookery, brings critical expertise, having already helped establish 98 school libraries, trained 171 library assistants, and reached over 98,000 learners.
“Literacy is a gateway to opportunity. With Beyond Words, we’re giving learners not just books, but the ability to dream, imagine, and grow”
– Nomzamo Mbatha, founder of the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation.
From 16 June to 18 July, 100% of proceeds from Cotton On Foundation products and donations purchased in South Africa will support Beyond Words literacy initiatives.
Together, we can go Beyond Words—and help change their future, one reader at a time.