Improving literacy and opening doors to education and participation.

Mercedes-Benz South Africa “Rally to Read” is an initiative which supports children, particularly during the transition from primary to middle and secondary school. To this end, comprehensive learning materials, professional development for teachers and training sessions for parents are offered. In this project, those involved have the opportunity to witness the children’s progress first-hand. Local visits, offering insights into day-to-day life at school, are a particular highlight for everyone. Successes are celebrated together.

For 26 years, Mercedes-Benz South Africa has been a partner of “Rally to Read”, which is driven by the support and commitment of those involved. The initiative’s success is reflected in the figures for 2025: In Pretoria (Gauteng Province) and East London (Eastern Cape Province), twelve schools, with a total of 169 teachers and 6,085 pupils received support. Literacy has been improved in the long term as a result of the ongoing professional development of teachers, the targeted use of digital technologies in the classroom and, not least importantly, the encouragement provided to the children by volunteers from Mercedes-Benz South Africa.