Future bookworms on the horizon
A culture of reading is slowly being introduced in disadvantaged schools in Benoni, by means of a mobile library and a group calling themselves the Reading Gogos.
Ekufundzeni, previously known as the Methodist Education Initiative, organises these initiatives in Daveyton, Etwatwa and Wattville.
In 1991, Dave and Gill Bentley visited several local schools and realised there was a lack of libraries and books, as well as an absence of a strong culture of reading among the schools.
The Methodist Education Initiative was officially started by Dave Bentley in 1996, to formally continue the work which had already been carried out since 1993.
In July 1997, the mobile library started operating and has been running continuously ever since.
It started with four schools and grew to 42 over the years.
They have now limited their service to the 29 schools, which make active use of the library.
It was decided a mobile library, with a librarian, would be able to provide access to a large stock of books in a cost effective and efficient way, as the costs of the mobile library constitutes less than five per cent of the projected costs of equipping each school with a library.
Income is received from Ubambiswano (the outreach activity of St Andrews School for Girls) and donations from the founder and other members.
The organisation wants to develop a culture of reading and therewith improve the quality and efficacy of education in previously disadvantaged schools.
They hope to help these schools build up libraries of their own, with the end goal of having an active library in each school in Benoni.
The Reading Gogos are made up of 42 volunteer women, who visit five of the schools once a week, for an hour, to provide hands-on support for the teachers, by reading from books in English at the foundation phase.
“Most of the books we have in our stock of nearly 20 000, are donated books, but many of them are out of date and need to be replaced,” said Kathy Cromer-Wilson, programmes manager of Ekufundzeni.
As the teachers’ use of books has increased, the organisation now needs new books to expand their stock, with the aim at more curriculum and African relevant books.
To join the Reading Gogos or to donate books, visit www.ekufundzeni.co.za or contact Kathy Cromer-Wilson on 082 048 4260.
