The book, Thembi and Themba Ride the Gautrain, aims to promote reading and educate children about the Gautrain as a form of public transport.
The 27-page illustrated book, which was written by Manichand Beharilal, documents Thembi and Themba’s experiences as they take their first trip on the Gautrain.
The Grade 2 pupils, the majority of whom were experiencing travelling on the Gautrain for the first time, rode the train from Marlboro Station to the Pretoria Station.
At the Pretoria Station, they were met by the Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi and Gautrain CEO Jack van der Merwe, who they greeted with songs about literacy and public transport.
Watch the video below:
Vadi engaged with the children about their career aspirations and the importance of reading.
Vadi said the purpose of the book was threefold: to promote literacy, motivate young people towards careers in the transport sector, and to introduce the Gautrain to a new audience.
“We want to create a culture of reading but we also want to inspire kids towards a future career in the transport sector… there are many new opportunities emerging in the transport sector and there’s a skills shortage in our country.
“If at an early age I can get these young learners to think about becoming a train driver or engineer or technical person; that’s great,” said Vadi.
The book was given to the twenty Grade 2 pupils, who began reading extracts from the story out loud.
Mabandla Sibeko, deputy principal of MC Weiler Primary School, said the initiative was good because education was not limited to the classroom.
“For these kids to be on the Gautrain they were very excited about it… the train trip itself was a learning experience and I believe the experience they had would go a long way,” he said.
Related article:Transport MEC encourages use of the Gautrain
