Building Libraries

Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning for all is the fourth Sustainable Development Goal included in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Did you know that only 2% of all books published in South Africa are in an African language? And a mere 8% of our public schools have a library? Shockingly, 81% of our grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning in any language! These disturbing stats compelled us to prioritize promoting multilingual literacy.

Our mission is to provide all South African children with access to reading materials in their preferred language. Our bimonthly book drives collect functional literacy, cultural literacy, literacy for personal growth, and critical literacy books which we distribute to local schools, orphanages, technical vocational education and training (TVET) colleges, and the Mafikeng Innovation Hub. Any additional assistance would be greatly appreciated.

In observance of Youth Day, we collaborated with Miss Teen Africa finalist Reneilwe Sithole and the South African Royal Princesses Network on a book drive. Within a single week, we collected and donated 500 books to construct a library at the House Group Home for Girls, a child and youth care center catering to vulnerable children between the ages of six and eighteen. The young girls were motivated to develop a love for reading by being exposed to various books; we provided study guides and textbooks to grades eleven and twelve students, and even showed them how to create origami bookmarks.

As educators, parents, and guardians across the globe face the challenging task of developing 'smarter' learners, promoting reading proves to be an effective solution. Analyzing school-aged children's performance grades revealed that fostering a reading habit can significantly enhance their cognitive abilities. A school-aged child who reads twenty pages daily will accumulate thirty books annually – thus highlighting the importance of our Building Libraries initiative.