Hey Dad!
Hey Dad! is a digital programme for South African dads of 4- to 6-year-old children. Accessed on cell phones, Hey Dad! offers dads short, fun and affordable activities, using everyday items, that they can do with their children in their own space and in their own time. Hey Dad! is designed to suit the way modern African families live, learn and work today. Play is often neglected due to having to prioritise work, time constraints, limited play/educational resources and lack of confidence or knowledge.
The aim of Hey Dad! is to improve father-child relationships by eliminating some of the pain points associated with play and teaching. By using the Hey Dad! programme dads not only bond but also become enablers of learning while their children benefit socially, physically and cognitively. Hey Dad! is available as an online and offline mobile app. The offline version of the app eliminates the data cost barrier that prevents the vast majority of South Africans accessing digital content. Hey Dad! is also available as a channel on Ayoba – Africa’s ‘chat andchannel’ app – powered by MTN. Ayoba reaches over10 million monthly active users.
Hey Dad! is a partnership between EISH and COUNT Africa, made possible by ‘development and testing’ funding from Innovation Edge.To learn more about why Innovation Edge invested in Hey Dad! click here. Innovation Edge invested in Hey Dad! because there is no app that targets South African fathers with practical but fun learning activities, that they can do with their young children at home. Furthermore, the programme will explore whether fathers can be encouraged to have a more engaged role in their children’s education if barriers associated with physical location and time are removed.
