Tributes from Community Users:

• My patients and I learn together, it also encourages me to help people who have problems. What I like best is that my patients can listen to the voice from the book because they didn’t know how to read – Reet Community Health Worker, Eastern Cape, South Africa
• These books will assist in helping our patients and answer all their questions about AIDS and Depression. We were also very happy that it was in Pedi so our patients understood them very well. We enjoy listening to Sister Lillian from Soul city. Thank you for this gift. – CCLO Lephalalle, South Africa
• The book was like I was watching a very interesting programme. – Male PLWHA from Limpopo South Africa
• The book has helped me stop someone who wanted to kill herself – Male Nurse from North West Province, South Africa
• It was easy to understand my patients and they felt free to talk about depression with me. This book helped my patients realise that they are not alone and don’t have to be lonely – Home-Based Care Worker

Tributes from International Experts:

• These are wonderful tools to reduce the stigma of mental illnesses and promote awareness of mental health, and I am pleased to have them - First Lady Rosalynn Carter
• When finances are limited and literacy poor, the Speaking book provides an inexpensive way to disseminate valuable information at low cost – Johns Hopkins Media/Materials Clearinghouse
• I keep thinking about those simple ‘talking books’ that can be adapted to any subject or language for any low-literate populations. What a terrific way to get important information to them – Barbara Kazdan, Senior Venture Entrepreneur, Co-Director ASHOKA
• We were especially excited with the Speaking Books on Living with HIV and AIDS and Depression. We had excellent feedback from our HBCW about how well received they were in the communities. We will probably order more sets in the new financial year, as a tool they have worked well.- Dr IM Sibeko, SA Department of Health, Head of Department

• American Indian and Hispanic migrant farmworker families are in a state of crises when it comes to diabetes, and low literacy makes it difficult to communicate about health diets. Speaking Books provide an innovative way for us to effectively communicate with these families about the importance of diet and physical activity. – Denise Glyn Borders, Ed.D Senior Vice President and Director AED.
• I am very impressed by the Books of Hope. In many of the countries where the Abbott Fund supports programs, there are very special populations, particularly children and low literacy women, who need to be reached with a health, legal rights and social services related message. My sense is that the design of these books, allow for flexibility and customization in terms of language, message, subject and audience – Reeta Roy, Divisional Vice President of Global Citizenship Abbott
• The response we had to the books from the caregivers here at my Ambassador’s Ceremony and workshop was really something -- they all wanted more and tried to get more out of your staff. Thanks for sending the extra Speaking Books that you did - although it has started immense competition among my grantees! I only wish I had more money for each project. I would like to see SADAG training and Speaking Books going to each of my grantees, and I will work on it for next year - Chalone Savant, HIV/AIDS Community Grants Coordinator U.S. Consulate General South Africa

Awards:

• Pan African Health Award for “Innovation, excellence and sustainability”
• CPSI Public Sector Innovations Runner Up Award in the category “Innovative Use of Information Communication Technology (ICT) for Effective Service Delivery”
• PharmaVoice 100 honoree for patients rights and creating the Speaking Book

• Saatchi & Saatchi New York World Changing Ideas Finalist
• Silver Medal CAPAM Award Barbados  (Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management)  International Innovations Awards October 2008
• American Express Members Project nomination

2009

• AfriComNet Award for Innovation in HIV and AIDS Communication
• Purpose Prize Fellowship Awarded for outstanding contributions to the social good
• World Medical Association General Assembly New Delhi world launch of the Speaking Books for Clinical Trials
• Department of Public Service Ministers Award for Innovation and Sustainability in health care.