Thirty KPMG volunteers spent International Literacy Day in the classroom, bringing stories and reading to life for 240 Grade 2 learners at Riversands Primary School in Johannesburg.
The volunteers visited the school on Tuesday, 8 September, as part of KPMG’s Family for Literacy (KFFL) programme, an initiative aimed at encouraging children and families to develop a love for reading.
Instead of simply handing over books, KPMG employees sat with learners in small groups and took part in interactive storytelling and reading sessions. The aim was to make reading feel less like a school requirement and more like an enjoyable experience.
Each learner was also given a book to take home, giving them an opportunity to continue reading with their families after the event.
Dudu Ndlovu, Head of Corporate Affairs at KPMG One Africa, said the initiative was about more than financial contributions.
“At KPMG, we believe that our impact is amplified when our people are able to give more than financial resources – when they give their time, their skills and themselves,” said Ndlovu.
She said spending time directly with communities allowed KPMG employees to understand their needs and play a more active role in creating opportunities for young people.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of ongoing literacy challenges in South Africa, where limited access to books and reading resources can affect children’s learning and educational development.
Ndlovu said providing books was only one part of addressing the challenge.
“We know that access to books is important, but we also know that putting a book into a child’s hands is only part of the journey,” she said.
“The human connection matters. When a KPMG volunteer sits with a learner, reads a story with them, listens to their ideas and encourages them to turn the next page, we are helping to make reading a lived experience rather than simply a school requirement.”
KFFL operates across Africa, where KPMG member firms work with schools, libraries, Early Childhood Development Centres and literacy-focused organisations to support children in communities where access to learning resources can be limited.
For KPMG, literacy is also linked to the wider question of young people’s future opportunities. The organisation says strong literacy skills can contribute to educational achievement, employability and participation in the economy.
The programme forms part of KPMG’s contribution to its global 10by30 ambition to economically empower 10 million young people by 2030.
Ndlovu said the organisation hoped the experience would leave learners with more than just a new book.
“When we talk about our African impact, we are talking about investing in the foundations that enable young people to participate meaningfully in society and the economy,” she said.
“Literacy is one of those foundations. A child who develops a love of reading has greater access to knowledge, imagination and new possibilities.”
The 8 September activation formed part of KPMG One Africa’s broader commitment to using employee volunteering and community partnerships to support education and youth development.
“Our people are at the heart of our impact,” Ndlovu said. “The most meaningful change happens when we move beyond talking about the communities we serve and actually spend time with them.”
For the 240 young learners at Riversands Primary School, that meant a day of stories, interaction and a book to take home — with the hope that the next page could be the beginning of a lifelong love of reading.