Dates: July 1-August 1, 2013

Major Cities Visited: Johannesburg

Climbing Location: Waterval Boven

Non Profit Partner: Room to Read

The Lead Now Tour kicks off in South Africa during the month of June and July, where the team visits a Room to Read site in the field. Room to Read focuses on increasing students’ access to reading material in their native language. In 2012, Room to Read South Africa introduced a Reading & Writing Instruction program in Sepedi. The program focuses on improving the literacy skills of early grade readers with the goal of helping them become lifelong learners.

80% of students in South Africa have no library. Rural schools in particular suffer from overcrowding, poor infrastructure such as collapsed ceilings and broken windows, and lack of non-textbook reading material. Diversity of language adds another layer to South Africa’s already complex educational system, with the country recognizing 11 official languages.

Follow all of Paige's Lead Now exploits at http://leadnowtour.org/