- Parkwood Primary School received a donation of 1,200 books to establish its first library and student hub, a significant milestone for the school which has lacked a library for 50 years.
- Acting principal Vaughn Adriaanse and Rescue a Young Life founder Bronwyn Newman aim to create a safe space that fosters a love for reading and offers students, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, a chance to broaden their horisons.
- Additional books and resources will arrive on Mandela Day, enhancing the library setup with comfortable furnishing.
With the donation of1 200 books to create a library and student hub, learners at Parkwood Primary School will be able “see the world through books”.
The donation on Friday 21 June came as a huge relief to a school that, since its inception 50 years ago, had no library.
Acting principal Vaughn Adriaanse said they hoped to create a safe space while fostering the love for books.
“For the longest time Parkwood Primary hasn’t had a library and we are grateful to have this donation to start us on the road to bigger things.”
Bigger venue
His long-term goal for the school and its learners is a larger space to create a library as the current space will be a shared classroom.
“I hope others see this, and our appeal, to hopefully get a bigger venue so that our learners can benefit because many come from disadvantaged backgrounds and gangsterism,” he said.
“This would be an opportunity for learners who cannot get out of Parkwood to see the world, through the reading of books.”
The vision for a student hub and library is spearheaded by founder of Rescue a Young Life, Bronwyn Newman.
“I’ve been sending messages out all over social media and contacts to NPOs that I have engaged with in the past to assist with books,” says Newman.
Last month, a publishing company reached out which began the start of the new library.
“There is no literacy or reading space at the school so we want to incorporate a system where we can make library cards and get the learners into the process of taking out books.”
She adds that her aim is to have learners fall in love with books.
“We want a space where kids can broaden their mindset and imagination while improving their comprehension.”
Mandela Day
The donation is the first batch to arrive at the school as an extra 2 000 is earmarked for the school to be delivered on Mandela Day (Thursday 18 July).
“On the 18th we will be assisted with the set up of the library the space with bean bags and murals and really turning it into a comfort zone and safe space,” said Newman.
Juta HR partner Taaliah Webber said the books are earmarked for Grade 3 learners and up.
“We have a number of books we are donating to the youth during this month (Youth month) and we wanted to see where we could add value and make a difference to communities.”
She further explained that the brand new books is to ensure learners have access to literature and to “give them what they never had”.
“It is new books, never been used, from our warehouse which we have excess stock of,” said Webber. “We will be getting a team together with the idea to create a safe space and for the school to finally have a library after all these years.”
Webber emphasised the importance of literacy in the world of work.
“Every child has the right to have access to education and reading is so important because if you can’t read or write…you can’t progress in life. You won’t have a job one day.”
Creativity
Referring to the impact of books on children, Webber said reading and ignited the spark of creativity in children.
“It is a nice escape for children because when you read, you are transported to different places that you are reading about and it ignites that spark of creativity in children,” she said. “It is lovely to be literate and have books to read because that triggers your creativity in a completely different way and you never know with the little one, they may become writers, journalists or actors.”
Pointing out the impact of technology on children, Webber said it simply strips children of their creativity.
“The problem we find, in general, is that children sit with their phones and reading has gone out the window,” she said. “It has been proven, the more time you spend in front of technology the less creative you become so books are still important. I think these books are going to give them something new to look forward to.”
