Foundations encourage learners to fall in love with reading
Five foundations recently launched the Sasaladzi la Fhulufhelo Literacy Library Hub for the learners at a primary school in Ngovhela outside Thohoyandou.
LIMPOPO – Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO Sello Hatang encouraged learners to read as many books as possible and fall in love with reading.
Hatang’s vision for the country is to have a nation that reads, which he believes, starts with the youth. According to him, if the children read about fun things and interesting people, they would want to read more books.
The foundation decided to build a small library at a local school and donated books about old president Nelson Mandela, who most children learn about in class, to honour what he did for the country and the love he had for children.
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Hatang explained a young woman, who rewrote her National Senior Certificate at the Mphaphuli Repeat Matric Centre based on Mamali Sikhwivhulu Primary School’s premises, wrote a letter to them and suggested they develop small library at the school.
Literacy4Life, The Child Upliftment Corner (CUC) and Shout SA collaborated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Rotary International to launch the Sasaladzi la Fhulufhelo Literacy Library Hub for the learners at the suggested primary school in Ngovhela on July 29.
“We were inspired by the young lady’s idea and realised it will help to encourage learners to read books from a young age.
“We understand the youth is no longer interested in reading books and we hope the opening of this reading hub will culltivate a reading culture among young people again,” said Hatang and added the project will benefit the 395 current learners and teachers at the school, as well as the community at large.
Literacy4Life chairperson Vena Chueu said they believe to introduce and improve literacy in disadvantaged areas will boost the development of young minds and improve their life trajectory.
According to Chueu, over 50 000 books were donated to needy communities throughout South Africa with Literacy4Life.
She said Fhulfhelo Muvhali, a student at the University of Venda founded the CUC foundation in 2021 in the belief that reading improves linguistic skills at an early age.
The Department of Education deputy director general of curriculum management and delivery, Dr Komane Mphahlele, said reading from a young age improves the country’s learners and academic standard.
“As the Department of Education, we have a reading plan which focuses on reading to understand and reading for pleasure. We support any initiatives that support the objectives of these reading plans,” Dr Mphahlele explained.
