The saying goes, today a reader, tomorrow a leader. And that is exactly what Woodstock-based organisation The Bookery is advocating for.
The organisation aims to create dynamic school libraries that inspire a love for reading.
Since 2010, The Bookery has set up 92 school libraries countrywide.
In honour of Mandela Day (celebrated on 18 July annually), the organisation is on a mission to raise R1 million to purchase books for learners from disadvantaged communities across South Africa.
Zulfa Buziek, Fundraising and Communications officer for the organisation, says: “We are hoping to raise R1 million to purchase books in the mother tongue of our learners. One of the biggest requests from our libraries is for books in the mother tongues. It is very expensive to source books in the mother tongues.”
She says children love reading and hearing stories that are relatable to them.
“If learners don’t understand what they are reading, they are not really reading, no matter how well they can say the words on the page. Understanding is at the heart of reading; children need to read stories in their home language. They can then concentrate completely on the flow of the story instead of struggling to understand a language they don’t know well yet.
Buziek says the books will be distributed to selected schools in their database. “These will be distributed to the different schools that have Bookery libraries. All schools in the previously disadvantaged areas like Soweto, Cape Flats, Diepsloot, Gqerberha and Khayelitsha.
Buziek appeals to people, corporates and organisations to get involved and assist them in their appeal. “We are asking people to donate, share the appeal on their social media platforms and help The Bookery reach the target”.
- For more information visit www.thebookery.org.za
