The Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA) is an independent research and development unit affiliated with the University of Cape Town. PRAESA’s work in literacy curricula, training, materials development and research has meaning making, stories and imagination as its compass point.  PRAESA’s aim is to enable inspiring and motivating opportunities for literacy learning among and development for all children living in multilingual settings by transforming the way adults engage with children using print in both formally and informally structured educational settings.

Find out about our multilingual books!

Curriculum orientation

The ‘what if’ of the story – and other blogs! 

StoryPlay
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Little Hands Project

Little Hands Project

The Little Hands Project promotes and supports the development of children’s literature in Africa.

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Little Hands Project

It is inspired by the understanding that the way to a child’s heart and mind is through a story.

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Little Hands Project

The project was formed as the Little Hands Trust to motivate and nurture reading and writing among African children and their care-givers.

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Little Hands Project

Its core understanding is that children of all ages become inspired and creative when they have meaningful, enjoyable and interesting reading materials.

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Watch our ALMA Award Ceremony

Sink or Swim: Navigating language in the Classroom

Sink or Swim: Navigating Language in the Classroom was produced by TOMIX productions for PRAESA in 2004. Through filmed lessons in a variety of classrooms and interviews, including with PRAESA founder Neville Alexander, this documentary shows the importance of mother tongue education and is as relevant today as it was when it was produced.