By Maverick Kids,
Every child deserves the chance to explore these opportunities, but in South Africa, where millions of children struggle to read for meaning, access to books and other learning resources remains far from equal.
Weve shared these statistics before, but they bear repeating. In South Africa, eight out of 10 Grade 4 pupils cant read for meaning. And for many children the challenge begins long before they enter a classroom: nearly three in five South African households dont have a single fiction or nonfiction book.
Without access to books and the opportunity to build strong reading skills, generations of children are locked out of learning and opportunity before even starting high school. These consequences follow them into adulthood, affecting everything from critical thinking and cohesion, to their ability to contribute to the formal economy.And that cost is staggering too: illiteracy is estimated to cost the nation R119-billion per year in lost productivity and social costs.
Thats exactly why Daily Maverick partnered with Gift of the Givers six years ago to launch the MavericKids Activity Book – a 240-page annual compiled with the best inserts from the award-winning DM168 newspapers childrens section – to make learning more accessible, bring new ideas within childrens reach and encourage them to dream beyond their immediate circumstances.
Now, we are incredibly proud to announce that the release of this projects sixth edition is ready to inspire another generation of young readers.
More than a bookFilled with engaging activities, fascinating facts and problem-solving puzzles, the MavericKids Activity Book turns reading into something of an adventure. From science and nature, to money, culture and the human body, it encourages children to ask questions, follow their curiosity and discover something new with every turn of the page.
And the books are making their way into communities where learning resources can be scarce. Over the past five years 12,838 books have been donated to children through the initiative. Gift of the Givers has also shared encouraging feedback from schools, reporting greater pupil engagement, growing enthusiasm for the books and improvements in pupils vocabulary.
For a child with limited access to books, having one of their own can mean a world of new discoveries.You buy one, we donate one
The idea behind MavericKids is simple: for every book you buy, we will donate a book that Gift of the Givers will deliver, along with a stationery pack, to a child who needs it.
And if you dont have a young reader in your life, you can choose to donate both copies (just let us know in the comment section of your online order).
MavericKids books are a much-needed resource to help pupils improve their general knowledge and promote a better learning experience.
Help a child dream beyond their circumstances
The MavericKids Activity Book Volume 6 is open for pre-orders through the Daily Maverick Shop, for just R325.
Delivery of books is expected to commence mid-November 2026.
Buy a book for a child in your life, give one to a child who might otherwise go without, or do both. Every child deserves the chance to dream, no matter where they come from.
