TotalEnergies EP South Africa Partners with READ to RISE to boost Literacy on the West Coast

TotalEnergies EP South Africa has partnered with non-profit organisation READ to RISE to promote reading and learning at seven primary schools on the West Coast. The partnership will benefit almost 6,000 learners.

Through the READ to RISE Class Programme, each child will participate in structured literacy sessions and receive a new storybook to take home.

The schools involved in this initiative include Eden Primary School, Doringbay Primary School, Meddelpos Primary School, St. Andrews Primary School, Panorama Primary School, St. Augustine Primary School and PW de Bruyn Primary School.

During April and May 2026, READ to RISE will deliver its class programme to 161 classes, distributing 5,924 new storybooks to learners across the seven schools. According to the latest Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) report, 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning. The latest Department of Basic Education and UNICEF South Africa Study revealed that 43% of households in South Africa have no access to books. In addition, the 2023 National Reading Survey, found that two-thirds of homes with children under age ten do not have a single children’s book, and only 10% have more than ten books. This means most South African children arrive at school without important early home learning experiences.

READ to RISE aims to ignite a lifelong love of reading in children through its interactive class programmes and book ownership. By placing books into the hands of children, the organisation believes learners are more likely to succeed academically and become confident and engaged members of society. It all starts with reading. READ to RISE currently works with 18,000 children at 57 primary schools and 40 ECDs in Mitchells Plain and Soweto. ‘We are very excited to partner with TotalEnergies so that we can offer our class programmes to 7 primary schools along the West Coast – reading is the first step towards getting a good education and we are grateful to partners like TotalEnergies so that we are able to reach more children around South Africa.’ says READ to RISE Executive Director, Taryn Lock.

“At TotalEnergies, we believe that education is the foundation of lasting social change. By partnering with READ to RISE, we are investing in the future of our children and helping to create opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom,” said Lerato BALOYI, CSI Officer.

READ to RISE, founded in 2013, is a non-profit organisation that promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities in South Africa. We hope to inspire children to read so that they can ‘rise’ above their circumstances. To date, READ to RISE has given out over 400,000 new story books. For more information, please visit www.readtorise.co.za or email info@readtorise.co.za