Bovet Primary School extended an invaluable gift of knowledge to neighbouring schools after a donation of R100 000 worth of books by an anonymous donor through LeadSA.
The gift of various language and subject books resulted from a 702 Radio show appeal by youth, Yonela Nyovane, to help make a difference in Alex through quality education and an improved reading culture. The youth’s effort resulted in his recognition as the province’s Youth Hero for November 2015 by charitable organisation, LeadSA which helped to facilitate sourcing the books. The 500 donated books were received from LeadSA by excited staff members, some community members and the children.
Dianne McAlphine of LeadSA said the donation was from one youth to others and will hopefully ignite a reading culture. “Make reading your best friend. It’s a tool to help you get further in life,” she said.
LeadSA supporter, Colette Ball, urged the children to befriend books as they were the only solace to rely on when sad, lonely and feeling left out. “Books bring back inspiration and are a passport to greater things in life. Use the library and enjoy it,” she said.
School principal Edward Makasane said the donation will make a vast difference to the school’s mobile library which was recently donated by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund with a few books. “They add variety and scope for children to read and improve their knowledge. The library will be open to neighbouring schools,” said Makasane.
Teacher Frederika Mhlanga encouraged all schoolchildren to exploit the new school resource, ‘as the day they stopped reading will be the day life also stopped through ignorance’.
