Edem Torkonoo

Many Ghanaian children lack a good foundation that teaches them how to read properly and thus, are struggling with understanding their school work and are avoiding reading for pleasure.
The Booksie is an online and offline literacy centre that supplements reading that is taught in school. The Booksie facilitates the development of participatory reading curricula, provides reading lessons, reading camps, storytime sessions and book clubs for 3 – 12 year olds.
In addition, they run a virtual bookshop that sells African children’s books. Through this intervention, they encourage culturally relevant and relatable books easily accessible to young Africans. Ever since the launch of Booksie, 3 and half years ago, they have served 900+ families who are listed in their customer relationship management tracker.
It is noteworthy that half of these families have used the literacy centre – reading lessons, virtual and in person storytime events and reading camps. The other half have equally used the centre or just bought books through the bookshop. The Booksie have sold close to 10,000 books and are poised to accelerate progress to Target 4.2 of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education).