Marking 27 years of successful collaboration, Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) continues to advance access to quality education in rural schools through its long-standing partnership with the READ Educational Trust, through the Rally to Read programme. In 2025, this commitment was reaffirmed through a R4 million investment supporting 16 schools participating in the Rally to Read programme.
Rally to Read focuses on improving literacy outcomes in under-resourced communities. It achieves this by equipping teachers with training and classroom support, while also providing mentoring for parents and guardians to reinforce learners’ home-based reading, language, and comprehension development. With the support of structured lessons and quality teaching and learning resources, foundation phase learners are empowered to build both confidence and competence in literacy.
Bringing this impact to life is the annual Rally to Read activation, a key component of the partnership that serves as both a community engagement platform and a strategic employee volunteer initiative for MBSA. A highlight of the event is the handover of educational learning materials to participating schools, including books, digital learning tools, and essential classroom supplies. Each year, employees across MBSA’s operational locations come together to take part in the Rally, engaging with learners, supporting classroom-based reading activities, and assisting with the distribution of these resources. This hands-on involvement reinforces the company’s approach of aligning its CSR strategy with employee volunteerism, enabling employees to actively contribute to MBSA’s social responsibility objectives.
Thato Mntambo, General Manager: Corporate Affairs at Mercedes-Benz South Africa said, “Our partnership with the READ Educational Trust reflects Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s broader commitment to creating long-term, sustainable social impact through education. Strengthening literacy at a foundational level is critical to building the skills and capabilities that will shape South Africa’s future workforce, and by supporting both educators and learners, we are contributing to the development of a stronger talent pipeline.”
Carol Read, Chief Executive Officer at READ Educational Trust added, “Mercedes-Benz South Africa’s continued support has played a significant role in strengthening the reach and impact of the Rally to Read programme over the past 27 years. This year, further marks an important milestone with the onboarding of 12 new schools within the Eastern Cape, reflecting the growth of this partnership and its ongoing commitment to investing in the education and future of young learners.”
Rally to Read serves as a powerful example of how targeted support, innovation, and collective effort can create meaningful change in communities by equipping both educators and learners. This initiative exemplifies that impact, nurturing emerging talent and strengthening the future workforce pipeline, ensuring brighter futures across the country.
