EdTech startup BookSmart, is running a nationwide campaign dubbed ‘Mashujaa Wa Kusoma’ to promote the reading culture in Kenya. The campaign focuses on Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu, and Mombasa.
The campaign challenges young readers aged 3-12 to complete 25 books between 15th July and 12th October. Children who meet this goal will receive a gift hamper from BookSmart, while the top reader in each region will be awarded a grand prize.
The EdTech sector in Africa has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years and is poised to revolutionise the continent’s educátion landscape.
Africa has an increasingly youthful population that is hungry for knowledge and skills, making EdTech a beacon of hope, offering innovative solutions to the age-old challenges facing educátion on the continent.
According to a 2022 report by Briter Bridges, there are more than 500 EdTech startups operating across Africa, offering a diverse range of services from online tutoring and e-learning platforms to digital content creation and teacher training programs. BookSmart is one of these EdTech startups promoting educátion in Africa.
BookSmart’s features allow children to access books anytime, anywhere, whether online or offline. The app’s interactive stories, personalised recommendations, and progress tracking tools ensure that reading remains engaging and fun for young readers. This digital approach is breaking down barriers to educátion by giving children in remote areas access to a vast library of books in their own language.
Speaking on BookSmart, Ms Olivia Kimani, the Director of Partnerships & Services at Worldreader Kenya, said the app plays a key role in transforming literacy among children.
“BookSmart is helping us close the literacy gap by giving children across Kenya access to high-quality reading materials. Through campaigns like Mashujaa Wa Kusoma (translated as Reading Heroes) we’re not only providing exciting reading experiences, but we’re also rewarding children, their supportive families and communities for their dedication and inspiring a lifelong passion for learning,” Ms Kimani said.
Mashujaa wa Kusoma Campaign
This campaign offers over 2,700 free books in both English and Kiswahili, ensuring accessibility for children of different reading levels. With the campaign in full swing, children from all regions are diving into stories that not only improve literacy but also inspire a love for reading.
The campaign has also established WhatsApp book clubs across Kenya, creating a platform for parents to advocate reading and track their children’s progress. These book clubs encourage parents to share their children’s reading journey and milestones with others within their reading circle and motivate them to keep reading.
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