CityKidz embrace books

CityKidz pupils showed off their impressive craft skills in hopes of being awarded the prize for the best reading corner at the school.

CityKidz school is a social initiative by Afhco, a property development and management company that provides quality, affordable rental accommodation to address social needs in the Johannesburg inner city.

The school was founded to address the rapid growth that has taken place in the city and find a solution to the lack of good schools in the area.

The school decided to hold an internal competition where each of their 18 classes were challenged to create a reading corner for use by the pupils. Each class was encouraged to work together and create a ‘getaway’ space by recycling old materials and putting their own spin on the brief.

Not only were the children involved but parents were too. They were also encouraged to donate books and items that could be used to create this space for their children.

Charmaine Plit, wife of Afhco CEO Renney Plit, Shay Heydenrych of Jacana Publishers, Angela Rivers of Johannesburg Property Owners and Managers Association, Lauren Klevansky of Australian Books for Children of Africa and Rachel Klevansky, who attended with her mother, all who work closely with the school in some capacity, were the esteemed judges chosen to award prizes to the classes who scored best according to the criteria.

Judging the groups was no easy task, with judges opting to rather choose three winners as opposed to one – and this was no surprise after taking a look at all the creative ideas.

In the end, it was class RB which was awarded the winner of the competition in the Grade RR to Grade 1 group, class 3A was the winner in the Grade 2 to 3 group and class 5B won in the Grade 4 to 7 group.

All pupils who constructed the reading corners had great fun and now they all have a place of solitude where they can escape into a good book.

Details: 011 334 6631; citykidz.co.za