The Challenge: Washie 100

On 30 July, Jono will run the legendary Washie 100 Miler — 160km from Cathcart to East London, pulling the box behind him.

The box represents:

• The weight children carry when they cannot read
• The burden of illiteracy
• The commitment to build a literacy centre
• The hope of 100 Smiles

This run is the story that will mobilize everyone to give.

It costs R3500 to give literacy coaching to a child for one year.

Campaign Goal

To provide 100 children in East London with the tools, coaching and environment they need to learn how to read, through a literacy centre (library + digital) and trained literacy coaches.

South Africa faces a literacy crisis:

• 81% of Grade 4 learners are functionally illiterate
• Children who cannot read by Grade 4 are 4x more likely to drop out of school
• Literacy is the foundation for every future opportunity - education, employment, dignity and hope

This campaign gives 100 children the chance to rewrite their future. 100 children from a high‑need community in East London who:

• Have limited access to books
• Need structured literacy support
• Are falling behind in reading
• Need safe, inspiring spaces to learn.

We aim to build:

1. A Literacy Centre (Library + Digital Hub) that includes:

• Books and reading materials
• Child‑friendly reading spaces
• Digital learning tools
• Tablets / Chromebooks
• Literacy games and apps
• Storage, shelving, seating

2. Literacy Coaches Provided through Masinyusane, one of SA’s leading literacy organisations.

Coaches will:

• Run daily reading sessions
• Support struggling learners
• Track progress
• Build confidence and reading joy

“I’ve seen what happens when children fall behind in reading — they lose confidence, they withdraw, and they stop believing in themselves. I’m running 160km pulling the box because no child should carry the weight of illiteracy. Every step is for a child who deserves the chance to read, to learn, and to dream. Together, we can create 100Smiles.”