Real-world initiatives

From free access to real-world reach

FableReads is already reaching tens of thousands of children.

Schools and organisations are looking for high-quality, accessible resources they can put to work in the places they know best, around the needs and goals they already have.

13 languages

Accessible to more than half the world’s population
Across the globe

Stories being used in countries across half the world
Hundreds of books

Shared, reused and kept in circulation through schools and communities

Learners holding FableReads books and raising their hands in a reading circle at John Masiza Primary. — Readers Circles at John Masiza Primary, led by Nethisa iMvula · South Africa

We know FableReads has made its way into learning spaces in Sweden, Brazil, the Philippines, South Africa and Uganda. Hundreds of printed books are moving into schools and communities, to be shared and reused across classes and programmes for years.

Some of the uptake we can track through our partner-led initiatives. Some we only hear about later, and some we never know about at all. A website visit can show us that someone opened a story. It cannot always show us what happened next.

Organic uptake · Kaross Foundation

One story. Four schools. 3,704 learners.

Kaross Foundation in Limpopo supports rural schools, ECD centres and communities through literacy programmes, libraries, leadership development and access to learning resources.

The same story was used over a week from Grade R to Grade 7. They downloaded the illustration and different reading levels (A1, B1, C1) to accommodate different grades and abilities. The rhyme version helped them explore and celebrate Poetry Week.

Kaross put the resources to work around their own goals, supporting active classrooms, engaged learners and meaningful participation.

A learner reads a story aloud to classmates and a facilitator in a Kaross Foundation literacy session. — One story, adapted across grades and reading abilities.

“We are a VALUE driven organisation, and Fable Reads stories links with our values.”

Judy Muller · General Manager, Kaross Foundation

Partner-led initiatives

Books in children’s hands. Programmes in motion.

In 2026, FableReads began working with organisations on our first global pilot programmes in South Africa, a mirror of the wider world in one country. It has 12 official languages, a mix of cultures and wide gaps in infrastructure, resources and access. Many of those realities are shared by children, schools and communities around the world.

Each initiative is created around the partner’s goals, learners and context. We plan together. FableReads provides materials and guidance, while partners decide how best to use them and lead the work in the environments they know.

These collaborations create active feedback loops. We follow learners reached, books in use and engagement hours, and hear about the changes partners are seeing. We capture those learnings to strengthen FableReads and share them with partners globally.

In action

Different ages. Different settings. Different goals.

Nethisa iMvula

Walmer Township, Gqeberha · Eastern Cape, South Africa

Nethisa iMvula focuses on reading, writing and lifelong learning. It expands access to quality learning resources, strengthens literacy and builds local facilitation capacity.

They lead the after-school Readers Circles at John Masiza Primary, bringing Grade 5 and 6 learners together using FableReads English and isiXhosa books and activities.

Five Nelson Mandela University student teachers co-facilitate the sessions, gaining hands-on experience towards their portfolio.

Term 2 enrolment: +18%
Start of Term 3: +23%

Participation is voluntary, with no incentives. Word spread anyway.

“Once one of us shared our own experiences related to the story, the learners became more comfortable and confident. Many started raising their hands and sharing their own experiences.”

Facilitator · Nethisa iMvula Reading Circles Programme

Jupiter Street Primary

Ocean View · Western Cape, South Africa

A learner seen from behind reading The Lion and the Mouse in a FableReads book at a classroom desk. — One class started it. Deeper into the curriculum and wider reach, with the same resources doing more.

Jupiter Street Primary is a public, no-fee collaboration school, working to strengthen school leadership, teaching, learning outcomes and access to quality resources in an under-resourced community.

The English book supported daily shared reading, listening, reflection and discussion with Miss Moira’s Grade 5 learners. In Term 3, the books will be shared with the other Grade 5 classes and woven further into classroom learning through reading and listening comprehension and writing activities.

A two-week focus on the fable genre will use both the books and website. Learners will also take part in buddy reading, sharing stories with younger children in the foundation phase.

“These books will capture our learners’ attention, and they’ll associate the bright, modern style with fun and play rather than textbooks. I believe it will draw them into reading in a way that feels natural and exciting for them.”

Celeste Ebrahams · Principal, Jupiter Street Primary School

Christel House South Africa

Ottery · Western Cape, South Africa

For more than 20 years, Christel House South Africa has taken a holistic approach to education, combining academic learning, character development and support beyond the classroom. Part of the global Christel House network, it helps children from under-resourced communities build the skills and opportunities to shape their futures.

FableReads English and isiXhosa content will be used from Grade RR to Grade 4. Teachers will use the books and website across English learning support and the school’s character development programme, selecting stories by grade and theme.

Activities, comprehension questions and spelling lists will support classroom learning and lesson planning. The aim is for learners to experience a meaningful range of fables as they move through Foundation Phase. More stories to explore values and grow a deeper love of reading.

Two languages. Multiple grades. Integrated into established programmes.

“We are always interested in opportunities that can strengthen reading, language development, character formation, and meaningful learning experiences for our students. The fact that the stories include guiding questions and are available in different languages makes the work particularly interesting.”

Dr Ronald Fortune, PhD., MBA · Chief Academic Officer, Christel House South Africa

Created together

Local skills. Lasting resources.

The Wireless team brought FableReads to life in isiXhosa through many voices, narrating and producing the audio pro bono. Their contribution of professional time and masterful talent was worth around R100,000.

Andisiwe Mbelekane then volunteered her time to translate and edit the isiXhosa book and key website pages, bringing care and cultural understanding to every line.

Their work lives on in every story read, heard and shared. Because of them, these resources can keep travelling into homes, classrooms and communities, free to access around the world.

Anelisa Kana, Andisiwe Mbelekane and Lwamkelo Tshikini holding English and isiXhosa FableReads books at The Wireless. — Anelisa Kana (left), Andisiwe Mbelekane (middle) and Lwamkelo Tshikini (right)

This is just the beginning.

Imagine what becomes possible as more books reach children, more languages are added and more partners around the world join in.

Projects in other countries are coming. Be part of what comes next.

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