Uthando Competitors

Education transforms lives. First Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. We work to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need. At the heart of our work are the 600,000+ members of the First Book Network, the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children living in low-income communities across North America. This Network is the key to creating lasting change. Through our research arm, First Book Research & Insights, we conduct studies that aggregate their voices to identify challenges, needs, and solutions. To address their needs, we provide free and low-cost books, resources and access to leading experts through the First Book Marketplace, which uses aggregated buying power to support their work. Founded in Washington D.C. in 1992 as a nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is dedicated to eliminating barriers to learning and inspiring young minds. Learn more atfirstbook.organd visit our award-winning eCommerce website atfbmarketplace.org.

With your help we collect, sort, ship, and distribute books to students of all ages in Africa. Books For Africa is the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent.

In South Africa, 8 out of 10 learners cannot read for meaning in any language, and 1 in 7 cannot read a single word. These numbers are more than statistics—they represent children whose potential is at risk before they even finish Grade 3. At Funda Wande, we believe that every child deserves the chance to read with understanding and calculate with confidence by the age of 10. Our journey began with a simple but bold belief: strong foundations in literacy and numeracy are the key to unlocking every child’s potential. Our vision is to be a trusted partner in foundational learning, and our mission is twofold: to equip all Grade R-3 teachers to teach reading and foundational mathematics effectively by 2030, and to ensure every child in South Africa can read and calculate confidently by the end of Grade 3. We bring this vision to life by developing high-quality, CAPS-aligned teaching and learning materials, delivering specialized teacher training programs, and designing evidence-based interventions that are rigorously tested and independently evaluated. Our work does not stop in the classroom: insights from our research inform advocacy, guide government adoption, and help scale solutions nationwide. Grounded in collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and a commitment to measurable impact, we are driven by the belief that no child’s future should be limited by circumstance. As Nelson Mandela said, "Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation." So join us.