In a strategic joint effort to combat the global learning crisis and bridge the digital divide, KaiOS Technologies and Worldreader have announced a new milestone: One million readers empowered through the BookSmart app.
Starting in 2020, KaiOS Technologies, the web-based mobile operating system powering a new class of smart phones, and Worldreader, the international edtech nonprofit, are collaborating to bring high-quality reading material to first-time and affordable Internet users. price. Smartphones with KaiOS capabilities.
Since the start of the partnership, over 1 million people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries where the learning crisis and digital divide are most severe, have read over 3 million books through KaiOS smartphones on BooKSmart, Worldreader’s mobile reading application. The alliance has made a significant impact in India, where it has been activated on JioPhones and available on the Jio Store. Rebecca Chandler Leege, CEO of Worldreader, states: “This partnership represents putting the power of reading in the hands of those who need it most.”
Despite 95% of global broadband coverage, the usage gap remains one of the main challenges for people to benefit from the Internet. According to the Global Connectivity Report 2022, 2.7 billion people (a third of the world’s population) are still not connected to the Internet. Device affordability is a major barrier, with nearly 2.5 billion people living in countries where the cost of the cheapest smartphone represents a quarter or more of their average monthly income (Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2020).
In Sub-Saharan Africa, the learning crisis is particularly alarming, with more than 86% of ten-year-olds unable to understand a simple text and where access to reading material at home is rare or non-existent. With most countries having just 7% of books available at the household level (Countdown to 2030, 2021), lack of access has a significant impact on building healthy reading habits among families.
Both organizations are committed to expanding their global reach and impact, focusing primarily on Sub-Saharan Africa, to continue addressing the device affordability and learning crisis. Sebastien Codeville, CEO and co-founder of KaiOS Technologies, says: βKaiOS’ mission to close the digital divide would not be complete without meaningful partnerships like this one with Worldreader, which enable our users to access useful and impressive content that helps change their lives”.
About Worldreader
Worldreader gets kids reading to their full potential. An international non-profit technology organization, Worldreader supports parents and caregivers, school teachers, educators and local partners with access to digital reading materials, training, impact data and ongoing engagement. Our goal is to support early childhood development and reading outcomes for children in under-resourced communities, as well as in conflict and crisis settings. Leading digital reading in the Global South since 2010, Worldreader has supported over 22 million readers in over 100 countries. Worldreader believes that when children and caregivers are motivated and increase their reading volume and frequency, short-term outcomes such as improved reading comprehension and social-emotional learning will improve, leading to long-term educational outcomes, higher earning potential, and stronger emotional intelligence.
About KaiOS Technologies
KaiOS Technologies powers an ecosystem of affordable digital products and services and exists to empower people around the world through technology. KaiOS’ mission is to open up new possibilities for individuals, organizations and society by bringing mobile connectivity to the billions of people without internet in emerging markets, as well as providing those in established markets with an alternative to smartphones. To accomplish the mission, we created an operating system β KaiOS. A leading product in mobile operating systems with more than 170 million devices shipped in more than 150 countries. KaiOS is based on HTML5 and other open web technologies. Devices running on the platform require limited memory while still offering a rich user experience through access to apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps and Wikipedia.