Discover A Story
South Africa's Immersive Early Childhood Literacy Programme
Give every child the opportunity to fall in love with reading. Discover A Story is Nwala Foundation’s flagship literacy programme, combining theatre, storytelling, puppetry, books, music and interactive learning to inspire children to read before teaching them how to read. Designed for ECD centres, Grade R and Grade 1 learners, the programme transforms literacy into an exciting, memorable experience that builds lifelong reading habits.
ABOUT DISCOVER A STORY
Building a Love for Reading Through Stories, Theatre & Play
Discover A Story (DAS) is an immersive literacy programme created by the Nwala Foundation to help young children develop a positive relationship with books from the very beginning of their educational journey.
Instead of relying solely on traditional classroom instruction, Discover A Story uses professional puppet theatre, interactive storytelling, music, read-aloud sessions and creative participation to make reading exciting, engaging and meaningful.
Every performance reflects authentic South African experiences through indigenous storytelling, local wildlife characters, multiple languages and culturally relevant stories, ensuring children see themselves reflected in the books they read.
What Children Experience
An Interactive Literacy Experience Like No Other
Every Discover A Story visit combines six exciting literacy experiences into one unforgettable day.
Puppet Theatre
Professional puppet performances featuring the much-loved Lazy Park characters introduce children to the joy of books through entertaining stories and imaginative adventures.
Interactive Read-Aloud Sessions
Children experience expressive reading while learning vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills through engaging picture books.
Traditional African Storytelling
Master storytellers bring South African folktales to life while celebrating indigenous cultures and oral storytelling traditions.
Music & Literacy
Songs, movement and phonics activities help children build early literacy skills through rhythm, participation and play.
Interactive Theatre
Children become part of the performance by helping characters solve problems, encouraging confidence, creativity and critical thinking.
Book Giveaways
Each participating venue receives permanent book collections while children receive take-home reading materials to continue their literacy journey at home.
Why Schools, Libraries & Communities Choose Discover A Story
Theatre-Quality Literacy Experiences
Professional productions that deliver high-quality educational entertainment to every community.
Curriculum-Aligned Learning
Activities designed around Foundation Phase literacy outcomes while keeping children actively engaged.
South African Stories
Celebrating local languages, cultures, folklore and authors through authentic storytelling.
Sustainable Literacy Resources
Books, educator guides and take-home materials ensure learning continues long after the visit.
Active Learning
Children learn through singing, movement, participation and creative play instead of passive observation.
Measurable Community Impact
Supporting literacy development while strengthening relationships between schools, libraries and families.
Programme Benefits
For Children
- Increased confidence in reading
- Improved language development
- Positive reading habits
- Greater creativity and imagination
For Educators
- Curriculum-aligned literacy resources
- New classroom engagement techniques
- Teacher support materials
- Practical literacy strategies
For Libraries
- Permanent book collections
- Increased foot traffic
- Community engagement opportunities
- Stronger education partnerships
For Communities
- Improved literacy awareness
- Celebration of local culture
- Greater access to books
- Sustainable reading programmes
Our Literacy Pathway
From Discover A Story to the National Literary Games
Discover A Story is the first step in Nwala Foundation’s long-term literacy development pathway.
Discover A Story
ECD - Grade 1
Developing a love for reading through theatre, storytelling, and books.
National Literary Games
Grade 2 - Grade 3
Building literacy skills through interactive, team-based literacy competitions.
As children grow, they naturally transition from Discover A Story into the National Literary Games, where reading, language and storytelling become exciting competitive experiences.
Supporting the Mission Through Storytelling:
Warthog Pictures is Nwala Foundation’s creative production arm—specializing in television, film, and educational media that reflect African stories and support Nwala’s literacy initiatives.
Through Warthog Pictures, we transform the stories and characters developed through A Village, A Story and other projects into engaging digital content for young audiences.
This partnership ensures that our educational work doesn’t stop at village borders—it travels further through screens, media channels, and school resources across South Africa.
About Warthog Pictures
🐾 Featured Program: Lazy Park
Set in a wildlife reserve where the animals have grown too relaxed, Lazy Park uses humor, puppetry, and reading-focused storytelling to get children excited about books again. Characters like Thandi the baboon and Phila the mud-loving warthog learn from their human friends about the joy of adventure—and the power of stories.
Educational Themes:
Ages: 3-8
Platforms: TV, live shows, and digital media
A Puppet Show for Young Readers
Warthog Pictures Services
Educational TV and puppet show development
Story adaptation for children's programming
Full-scale media production: filming, editing, and distribution
Curriculum-aligned consulting for educational content
Foundation Phase Literacy Games
(Grades R - 3)
Engaging literacy activities designed for our youngest learners, building foundational reading and writing skills through play and competition.
Intermediate Phase Literacy Games
(Grades 4 -7)
Advanced literacy challenges that develop critical thinking, creative writing, and comprehensive reading skills for intermediate learners.
FET Phase Competitions
(Grades 8 - 11)
Sophisticated literary competitions focusing on advanced storytelling, analytical writing, and complex reading comprehension for senior students.
DISCOVER A STORY IN ACTION
See Discover A Story Transform Reading Into Adventure
Experience how theatre, storytelling, puppetry and books come together to inspire thousands of young readers across South Africa. Watch highlights from Discover A Story performances, literacy activities and community outreach programmes.
ABOUT DISCOVER A STORY
Building a Love for Reading Through Stories, Theatre & Play
Discover A Story (DAS) is an immersive literacy programme created by the Nwala Foundation to help young children develop a positive relationship with books from the very beginning of their educational journey.
Instead of relying solely on traditional classroom instruction, Discover A Story uses professional puppet theatre, interactive storytelling, music, read-aloud sessions and creative participation to make reading exciting, engaging and meaningful.
Every performance reflects authentic South African experiences through indigenous storytelling, local wildlife characters, multiple languages and culturally relevant stories, ensuring children see themselves reflected in the books they read.
ABOUT DISCOVER A STORY
Building a Love for Reading Through Stories, Theatre & Play
Discover A Story (DAS) is an immersive literacy programme created by the Nwala Foundation to help young children develop a positive relationship with books from the very beginning of their educational journey.
Instead of relying solely on traditional classroom instruction, Discover A Story uses professional puppet theatre, interactive storytelling, music, read-aloud sessions and creative participation to make reading exciting, engaging and meaningful.
Every performance reflects authentic South African experiences through indigenous storytelling, local wildlife characters, multiple languages and culturally relevant stories, ensuring children see themselves reflected in the books they read.
Bring Discover A Story to Your School or Community
Whether you’re a school, library, municipality, ECD centre or literacy organisation, Discover A Story can help inspire the next generation of readers.
Let’s work together to create communities where every child discovers the joy of reading.