8020 | Solomundo Foundation

The Solomundo 8020 Initiative is a unique literacy programme, bringing words, numbers, pictures and

self-sufficiency to millions of children around the world.

We write stories for kids who can't read or write. But they're not just stories. They're stories about the kids, their families, their environment and their lives. All the things they recognise. With a little bit of magic thrown in. They're stories that the local kids star in.

The stories take them on a magical journey of discovery, where they learn to interact with their world in a different way, follow the heroes in the story, do what they do. After all, the story could happen to any of them.

Our Pilot Project was in Korogocho in Nairobi, Kenya, a 200,000 strong slum squeezed into half a square mile.

For our partners, the folks that make this project work, the project pack includes interview and filming instructions and our standard lesson plan.

Have a look at what the professionals say. Literacy experts, teachers and psychologists alike applaud the 8020 initiative.

Each new child that has acquired the opportunity thanks to literacy... they're all thanks to you. Please donate.

Get in touch to comment, contribute, sponsor or advertise. We have spots available in various book and film formats.

Illiteracy = Poverty

Literacy = Freedom

Today in 2022, almost 20% of the world is illiterate. That’s over 1.5 billion people. And they're illiterate because they don’t have the resources and opportunities to learn to read. Many African countries have the lowest literacy rates.

Chad - 2016 - 22.31%
Guinea - 2014 - 32.00%
South Sudan - 2018 - 34.52%
Niger - 2018 - 35.05%
Mali - 2018 - 35.47%
Central African Republic - 37.40%
Burkina Faso - 2018 - 41.22%
Benin - 2018 - 42.36%

And in war-torn countries, like Afghanistan (2018 - 43.02%) and Sierra Leone (2018 - 43.21%) access to education is limited and in many cases non-existent.

And also consider the western world, the countries that score 99% literacy.

The world literacy map looks like this.

But it’s not a completely true picture. There are regions within those high literacy countries that are equally shut out from the written word, equally impoverished. They don't get a spot on the map.

Just think what they'd all say if they had access to the opportunities we do. 20% of the human population, suddenly able to learn, contribute, innovate and be heard.

Think back to another time of unequal opportunity. In America in the 20th century and what came out of that. The blues. The spirituals. A movement that formed modern music today.

What if that could happen again? What stories could 1.7 billion people tell? An explosion of new voices. Creating something wonderful.

Whether you’re in the desert in Chad or in a run down neighbourhood of Chicago, you can help and you can learn.

Initiative

When my friends son, Javier, heard about a character named “Javier” in a book, he suddenly got more interested. "That’s me!" he thought.

For young readers, it is far more likely they will get involved in a story if it’s about things they know, places they’ve seen, situations they recognize. It immediately makes the reader a stakeholder in the story. And if they had a hand in creating the book? Imagine how important that could be in a young life.

These are the stories we need to stimulate the love of reading, the passion for learning, and open doors to opportunity.

The 8020 Initiative aims to collect stories. Stories from people without access to any form of literacy but people who indeed have stories to tell.

The local 8020 representative, who might be in education, a journalist, or anyone with means and motivation, will meet the people and record their stories on video and audio.

Stories about them, their families, their dreams, their songs, their jokes. Record the essence of where they are. Maybe even something of who they are, paint a picture of people and a community in time.

Then, we will turn all of the media into a beautiful book about the people, their community, their lives.

Our partners at Offworld have a database of Translators, Ghostwriters, Editors, Designers and Publishers. Most have said they’ll discount prices and some have said they’ll gladly work on it for free.

So, between us all, we will create a book.

And that book ends up where it started, where our local rep will teach people to read using their own book.

Audiobooks will also be produced for educational groups that have the resources to utilise these in reading programs in the community.

And, in multiple translations, it ends up in a library in Chicago, in Rio, in London, and libraries in places that will identify with the stories, identify with illiteracy.

The stories can give inspiration to others in poverty.

It’s also intended to inspire help from those who are not.

Have a look at our Testimonials Page to see what Literacy Experts, Teachers and Educational Psychologists say about 8020.

Funding is warmly welcomed from those who believe in the initiative.

Talk about Funding

Donate

This is a collaborative project so as with all things,

help us make it better !

You know you can.

Thanks.

The Solomundo Foundation and 8020 are registered trademarks of their respective owners

Everything you need to develop and perfect your manuscript, get it designed, produced and exposed to the world.

Everything you need to develop and perfect your manuscript, get it designed, produced and exposed to the world.

Everything you need to develop and perfect your manuscript, get it designed, produced and exposed to the world.

​