Author Darryl Earl Davids captivated young audiences with the reading of his children’s book A Place to call Home! at a handover of books donated by Biblionef SA, to two schools on Thursday May 11.
Young ones were fully engrossed in his vivid storytelling of a young family and their relationship with an Egyptian goose. Invited by Strong Schools Community Collaborative (SSCC) in the Helderberg, Mr Davids, is also a lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
He used the book reading opportunity to encourage pupils to read, as reading will be the gateway to further education and training, he stressed.
The handover, facilitated by SSCC, took place at Christmas Tinto and ACJ Phakade primary schools in Asanda Village and Nomzamo, Strand.
Annette Botha from SSCC explained how facilitating book donations forms part of their library projects to promote reading at schools.
“Strong Schools Community Collaborative is a for-purpose organisation that helps build strong effective schools. Education is the most essential building block for a better future. With the many challenges in the educational landscape, our schools can be places of safety, creativity and learning.”
SSCC is currently collaborating with different stakeholders to create a better library and research centre at Christmas Tinto Primary. People are welcome to follow us on Facebook to see how this library project is progressing,” Ms Botha said.
Sunitha Amod, general manager of Biblionef SA, said Biblionef SA aims, “to make sure that home language books are accessible to as many children as possible, in order to promote their love for reading.”
Principal of Christmas Tinto, Mphicothi Qantolo underlined the impact of the donation on the pupils’ progress. “We are grateful for today’s donation because it means our children will be able to read more and improve their reading skills. As you know, currently in SA we are struggling with low levels of literacy, so reading provides them with that chance to improve on this.”
At ACJ Phakade Primary School there was a hype of excitement with the arrival of the box of books. Ms Botha said the role of SSCC is to assist the school’s library. “Our role is to support them with library materials and to ensure the library stays sustainable.”
The current challenge Ms Botha adds, is to find the funding to appoint a librarian at both the libraries.
Departmental Head at the school, Halana Mfusikazi, who received the donation on behalf of the school, said the donation is most welcome.
The well-equipped library facility at ACJ Phakade Primary was opened in 2022 and has speedily become a preferred place for pupils to spend their free time in. But there is a shortage of books.
“Thank you so much to the donor, because as you can see the books we have here are not enough. We really need more books, especially more readers in isiXhosa and English as we only have a few,” Ms Mfusikazi said.
She said the donation will help them to keep things going so that more pupils can benefit from the school library. “We appreciate the box of books and I promise we will use them well.”
Ms Botha appealed to those interested in coming on board with the Christmas Tinto library project to contact her on 072 189 9360 or send an email to admin@strongschoolsza.co.za
