Johannesburg, November 2024 – In recognition of World Children’s Day and its 2024 theme, “For every child, every right,” Bolt, a leading ride-hailing platform, today announced the launch of its Mobility Alphabet Campaign at the Heart of Hope Children’s Home. This initiative aims to transform daily commutes into learning opportunities while on Bolt trips, encouraging a love for reading among the nation’s young people and upholding their right to quality education. The Mobility Alphabet Campaign introduces a unique Bolt Mobility Alphabet designed to be inclusive and engaging for all learners. Printed in various South African languages, the mobility alphabet charts will be placed in the cars of top-performing Bolt drivers cars, offering children a chance to interact with language and improve their reading skills during their trip and at home.
According to the 2023 National Reading Barometer, 69% of 10-year-olds will be unable to read for meaning by 2026. The report also found that many pupils leave Grade 1 without mastering the alphabet and that only 52% of adults living with children engage in reading with them. Bolt, having provided over 2 million rides to and from schools in 2024, is committed to playing an active role in combating this crisis and ensuring every child can learn and thrive.
“We believe that education is the cornerstone of a brighter future,” said Simo Kalajdzic, Senior Operations Manager at Bolt. “Through the Mobility Alphabet Campaign and donating educational materials to the 46 children at the Heart of Hope Children’s Home in Wendywood, we support their futures and demonstrate our belief that every child deserves access to the resources they need to learn, grow, and succeed. This donation symbolises our ongoing commitment to empowering the next generation of South Africans through education in the communities that we operate.”
Bolt’s Mobility Alphabet Campaign is a testament to the company’s dedication to social responsibility and belief in the transformative power of education. By leveraging its platform and resources, Bolt actively empowers young children in South Africa. Bolt will distribute over 2,000 alphabet charts to schools and other children’s organisations in Gauteng, and children, together with parents or guardians, are encouraged to post a video of them reciting the Bolt Mobility Alphabet to stand a chance to win a library update for their school.