Woman donates books following theft of makeshift library

Resident Fikile Farrow’s fortune is changing for the better and is allowing her to rebuild her life and start up her library once again.

This comes as her story continues to gain traction and attract the attention of residents who are willing to offer a helping hand in the form of book donations.

Point in case is local kind-hearted resident Petro Pindral who donated crates full of books to Farrow, after reading her story in the Herald.

Speaking to the Herald in an interview Pindral said she is happy that she can make a difference in Farrow’s life.

“I saw the story about the lady that had the books taken from the container and I was so touched by it and that’s what sparked my interest. My children are all grown up and they’ve left the house. I don’t need the books anymore.

“I then thought of donating them to the lady so that everyone else can get a chance to read and write,” said Pindral who added that her daughter, Bianca Pindral, used to be a former journalist for the Herald and its sister newspaper the Krugersdorp News, and thought it was also great to also show support to the publication.

Pindral is the third resident to have donated to Farrow, after reading her stories in the Herald.

Also read: Makeshift library theft: Kind-hearted woman donates books

Farrow previously had her books stolen from her library and recently had the entire makeshift Zenzele I Mpumelelo library made out of a freight container stolen.

The incident occurred in December last year in Zenzele, where the makeshift library was located.

At the time, the Herald spoke to Farrow who said she was devastated, to say the least.

Also read: Makeshift library stolen in Zenzele

While the pain of losing all her hard work in the blink of an eye still lingers, Farrow said she is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Speaking of the donation, Farrow said it has been a very difficult time for her, but she remains positive, nonetheless.

“It’s a very difficult time for me as the founder of the library to have lost such a huge asset as the freight container. But the community is coming forward to donate books and sending me messages that I should carry on and this makes me feel empowered. I feel strong, and I don’t feel like I am carrying the burden alone. We are all affected including the community. Some people believe in the future and want to see good things happening and I feel that I must carry on.

“This is also an indication that no one can stop the work that God has started,” said Farrow.

She added that although she doesn’t have a structure, she is not discouraged from doing her work.

She will be going back to where the library was situated in March last year, to keep her dream alive of helping locals to read and write.

“We don’t need a structure to read, I will find a gazebo or a tree. I just want the children to read. The work will go on,” said an adamant Farrow.