Nal’ibali, the national reading-for-enjoyment campaign, has been bringing a special story to children to celebrate World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) for the past eight years.
In its first year in 2013, the campaign reached 13 000 children and this year the goal is to read aloud to three million children in a single day on 3 February.
The aim of the campaign is to draw attention to the importance of reading aloud to children in their mother tongue. The NGO commissions a brand-new story – best suited for reading aloud to primary school children – and translates it into all 11 official SA languages.
This is an ongoing campaign to urge parents, teachers and caregivers to read aloud to the children in their lives. The announcement that schools will be opening two weeks later than anticipated means that learners will lose more schooling days this year again due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year’s story is Fly, everyone fly! written by Sihle Nontshokweni, the best-selling children’s author of Wanda (published in 2019). Nontshokweni said sharing stories with children could help them become resilient and brave in real-world situations.
“The beauty of stories is their immersive nature, they allow children to enter a world in which they believe. In that sacred world, they can find the language and tools they need to deal with the pressures of the external world.”
Nontshokweni will be giving a special reading of the story, live on Nal’ibali’s Facebook page (@nalibaliSA) at 1pm on 3 February this year. Caregivers and their children are invited to join the digital read-aloud, not only to hear the story but to engage with the author and each other too.
Another champion of reading, Christina Nomdo, the Western Cape Children’s Commissioner, will also be giving a virtual reading of the story on the campaign’s page. The commissioner will be specifically highlighting the power of stories to set children up for success in school and life.
The power of stories, at home, at school and in the community.
Reading underpins all school learning and children who read regularly perform better in the classroom, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. Stories can be shared anytime, anywhere so, wherever children and caregivers find themselves on 3 February, Nal’ibali is encouraging them to start or maintain a reading routine. This simple habit can be an invaluable investment in their futures.
Members of the public wishing to get involved can visit www.nalibali.org or WhatsApp ‘WRAD’ to 060 044 2254 to make their pledge and gain free access to the official story and PRAESA’s guide to sharing the story with preschool children. They are also encouraged to share pictures of their read-aloud sessions online using the hashtag #MyWRAD2021.
