Nipping at the heels of nine years in the business of literacy promotion and with eight original books launched, Read to Rise has continued to thrive while promoting the important reading agenda in foundation phase classrooms.
Having visited all 47 primary schools in the Mitchell’s Plain area on rotation, learners now receive two books per year from the Oaky series, authored by renowned Mitchell’s Plain-born poet Athol Williams and illustrated by his wife, Taryn Lock.
Roscoe Williams, programme manager for the project, says they aim to finish all 47 primary schools in the first two terms and then revisit them in the last two terms to deliver a second book.
“Schools are really struggling. Some schools do not even have readers. Teachers really appreciate us coming to the schools because here we give each learner a book and it promotes classes reading together,” says Roscoe.
On Wednesday, the team visited the Grades 2 and 3 learners at Hillside Primary School to deliver Oaky and the Sun to Grade 2 learners and Oaky in the Playground to Grade 3 learners.
The Oaky series follows the development of an acorn into a big oak tree and the adventures around growing up in various circumstances.
“We sell the books as well for fundraising. There are no profits or royalties to Athol. 100% of the profits go back to the children,” says Roscoe, who is also Athol’s brother.
They have already donated more than 200 000 books to schools in Mitchell’s Plain, Soweto and Durban, with their main focus being Mitchell’s Plain where the brothers grew up.
“We are welcomed at schools with open arms and there is always a positive response to us coming to the schools. We were even allowed to continue during Covid-19 because of how important this is,” he says.
Other books in the series include Oaky and the virus – educating children about Covid-19, Oaky the happy tree, Oaky the brave acorn, Oaky runs a race, Oaky and Themba and What is happening to Oaky?
There are various ways to get involved, by sponsoring a child, donating toward the cause, buying the book series or volunteering, says Roscoe.
- For more information, visit the Read to Rise Facebook page or www.readtorise.co.za
