DHL Express, the world's leading international express services provider has partnered Worldreader, a non-profit organisation that advances literacy in developing countries to provide e-books to children in need.
To this end, DHL Express would support Worldreader's mission of putting 1,000,000 Amazon KindlesTM loaded with some of the world's best-loved books into the hands of young children in Ghana, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania before the end of 2015.
This was contained in a statement copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday
Mr David Risher, Chief Executive Officer and co-Founder of Worldreader said digital books are the most innovative way to help improve literacy in developing countries.
He said although the transportation infrastructure in many African countries could be a great hindrance to the initiative, Worldreader is committed to work closely with a company like DHL Express which has so much experience in the diverse region.
DHL Express was the first international express company to operate in Africa and is the only carrier to have a dedicated air network in the continent. Through the partnership, DHL Express will deliver Worldreader’s educational products to African countries, enabling the non-profit organisation to purchase more e-readers and books for distribution to those in need.
Mr Ian Clough, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express, US commended Worldreader for the valuable work in spreading literacy throughout the world.
He said DHL as a company that operates globally has a team of international specialists which have seen firsthand the impact that books and education can play in shaping the lives of children.
DHL has long been committed to corporate responsibility programmes. The Company's GoTeach programme creates and improves educational opportunities for children and teens around the world by partnering organisations such as the US-based Teach for All network and the SOS Children Villages.
Mr Randy Buday, Managing Director of DHL Express Anglophone Africa, expressed DHL's commitment to provide solutions to the issue of education in Africa which has been a longstanding one.
"As a corporate citizen, it's our duty to invest in the people living in the communities we serve and we take this responsibility very seriously.
Whether it's working with global organisations like SOS Children's Villages; distributing these phenomenal e-books; or simply delivering much-needed educational items to schools and organisations aligned with our local offices, education and community investment is critical to the continent's growth and well-being," he said.
"We already put more than 200,000 e-books into the hands of 1,000 students in sub-Saharan Africa and now with the support of DHL Express, Worldreader is better positioned to help increase access to digital books in developing nations," he added.