With efforts continuing in commemoration of World Read Aloud Day held earlier in February, an outreach by Ward 58 councillor Katherine Christie and Proportional Representation councillor Tandeka Gqada to the Kuyasa Public Library in Khayelitsha saw many donations of books to boost its empty shelves.
A fun-filled handover was made on Tuesday 20 February with preschoolers from Little Champions Preschool, Mthawelanga Educare Centre and Grow with Inamandla Educare Centre.
The books were donated by caring members of the Rondebosch, Claremont and Kenilworth communities.
Kuyasa Library’s assistant librarian Shai Sopazi said this marked a happy occasion for the library and its readers. “This came at the most perfect time as the library barely had books catalogued to be taken out. The children from the Educare centres who were here were terribly excited to take out some of the new arrivals.”
Sopazi is excited for the week starting on Monday 18 March, when the Kuyasa Public Library will be hosting its Library Week to open its doors for more books.
Principal Nandi Sithole, from Little Champions, said it was an amazing day with the little ones enjoying wonderful interaction while reading aloud.
“We are grateful that books are donated to the library because our schools lack all the necessary resources to boost literacy in the community. Illustrated books were read to our kids by Katherine who really interacted great with them. The children also engaged in rhymes as well as colouring activities,” Sithole shared.
Following the occasion, Christie told People’s Post she and Gqada “had an absolutely great time with these kids which totally filled me up for the rest of the year! I would love to do this again and again because there are too many empty bookshelves at these libraries.
“I’d love to appeal for more donations of books,” she said, adding that more children’s books can be dropped off at the Alphen Civic Centre in Constantia Main Road where Christie’s ward clerk Juline Peters will be available to receive any donations.
