North Durban residents campaign for the ‘write’ to literacy and education

According to the South African government, Human Rights Day which is commemorated on 21 March aims to remind South Africans about the sacrifices that paved the way to democracy. As part of a four-part series that explores human rights, the Northglen News chats to a Durban North based organisation to find out how they embody the right to education.

INSPIRED by the benefit of books, two north Durban residents founded The LEARN Project (LP), a non-profit trust with a vision to see learners develop a love of reading by making books accessible to them. Since its inception in 2013, LP has donated 38 706 books, established 13 school libraries and placed book corners in 43 schools and organisations across KwaZulu-Natal.

Mount Edgecombe resident, Lucy Pienaar is a co-founder and trustee for the project. She was inspired to empower rural school learners after visiting a school in the Transkei.

“I was so disappointed to see that they were sharing pencils and books were scarce. I went home and told my friend, Ros that I was inspired to help the school. She had the same vision,” said Pienaar.

While LP began with a focus on education now they focus on literacy and libraries.

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CEO and co-founder, Ros Toerien said each library is the start of a long-term relationship with the school.

“Creating sustainable libraries and classroom book corners depends upon the active participation of the school. The project educates, equips and empowers the librarian, teachers and library monitors by conducting unique and comprehensive training courses. Their support and commitment is crucial to the success of the library, ensuring that the books can be enjoyed for generations to come,” she said.

“There’s a knock on effect with our project and teachers become more inspired too,” added Pienaar.

The NPO’s work is based on their belief that ‘a reading nation is a leading nation’.

“We believe that ‘readers make leaders and leaders build nations’. With the wealth of information that books provide, minds are unlocked, knowledge is imparted and leadership is developed.

“This directly links to our core vision and mission of the LEARN Project and after eight years we have so much to celebrate. Many of our LEARN Libraries have won prestigious awards of excellence, a number of learners from our beneficiary schools have won competitions relating to reading, literacy and public speaking and LEARN has been commended by the Department of Education for the noticeable difference we are making in disadvantaged schools,” said Toerien.

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The core focus of the project is to open up opportunities for learners, added Pienaar.

“The children in primary school level are not fully literate and they go into high school unprepared. If you can read you can understand exams and test papers. Without reading, you will fall short. There are future leaders in every single one of those classrooms. Everyone needs that opportunity, they all have visions and dreams. Those learners are going to be future presidents, doctors, lawyers and so on. They are so passionate and grateful in those rural schools,” added Pienaar.

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