During its third annual corporate golf day event, value-added distributor Networks Unlimited raised R 96 700.00 in support of ‘Literacy for Life', a non-profit organisation that provides educational writing and reading aid to disadvantaged schools.

The NPO provides training for teachers on how to correctly use WriteRight, a range of brightly coloured, quality wooden educational products that focus on developing handwriting skills as well as improving literacy and numeracy. Literacy for Life aims to help children within the Foundation Phase at financially under-resourced schools to learn to read and write, relying on sponsorship from corporate companies to be able to provide these products and the relevant training.

Since 1994, the South African government has made various attempts to improve literacy levels within the country through an array of literacy and reading campaigns, by upgrading schools that were previously under-resourced, and by providing teacher training. However, the low literacy rate among pupils in the country remains widespread. For example, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) reported that the 2011 Annual National Assessment (ANA) results had declined since testing in 2008. In 2008, 36 percent of Grade 3s scored under 35 percent in literacy, while for 2011 the figure increased to 45 percent. A comparison between the 2008 Grade 3 results and the 2011 Grade 6 results also suggests a worsening performance.

"These figures underscore the importance of the private sector ‘s involvement in providing children with the available tools to help them learn to read and write," comments Anton Jacobsz, managing director at Networks Unlimited. "The purpose of Networks Unlimited's recent golf day was to hold a corporate challenge that was meaningful and makes a significant difference.

"The initiative was a great success and there is no greater charity than the gift of education. The funds raised with our business partners and vendors will ultimately have a positive impact not only on our children but also on the country's further development."

Sponsors of the Networks Unlimited golf day included business partners of the company such as Big Save, Barloworld Logistics, EOH, icomm, Matador, Three6Five and Unlimited Events Group, as well as vendors, Arbor, F5 Networks, Fortinet, Mellanox Technologies and Netscout, to ProLabs, RSA, Rubrik, Silver Peak and Tintri.

"Networks Unlimited has supported our initiative for three years now, and the company's passion for and focus on educating children is impeccable," comments Heather Andrew, director at Literacy for Life. "Networks Unlimited has made several financial contributions, and also assisted with various related projects involving IT services, as well as web design and a corporate video for our cause. Furthermore, the organisation donated age appropriate books for Foundation Phase learners during International Literacy Week in 2016. For these contributions and helping us support 29 schools, we are most grateful," she adds.

"At the end of the golf challenge, while the winning golf team may have received a floating trophy, the children that will be assisted through the funds we have raised will be the real winners," concludes Jacobsz.