Nal’ibali Limpopo together with Polokwane City Library will be celebrating the World Read Aloud Day (Wrad) for the fourth time at various venues across the province on Friday, 1 February.
The Wrad celebrations has as its main aim to building a strong language foundation, curiosity and critical thinking among young people,
It was learnt that officials have been visiting different schools for principals to pledge that they would encourage learners to celebrate the day by reading aloud a story titled ‘Where are you?’ written by Ann Walton, a well-known South African author and illustrator of children’s books.
According to Nal’ibali Provincial Support Coordinator Reggy Letsoalo, they are targeting to reach over
20 000 people this year and confirmed that by Friday, 18 January, about 15 000 learners in different schools had pledged their support.
Letsoalo indicated that celebrations will be hosted in libraries, schools and community organisations in Limpopo, adding that the programme targets to reach 1,5 million people in South Africa. He further stated that activities that would be carried out on the day aim to encourage young people, parents and caregivers to read aloud to one another as often as possible.
“Reading aloud is one of the most important things a parent or caregiver can do with children. Not only does it build a strong language foundation, it introduces vocabulary and can help develop empathy, curiosity and critical thinking. This will also assist in fighting illiteracy in the province. The story which will be read on the day has been translated in all the South African official languages to draw attention to the importance of reading aloud to children in their mother tongue,” Letsoalo explained.
He emphasised that the previous editions have been successful and many people are showing interest in the programme. He went on to outline that they are going to deploy teams of officials to various venues on the day of the celebration to monitor the process and pleaded with parents to be part of this year’s Wrad to encourage their children to read.
The Provincial Wrad Community Walk is scheduled to take place at Giyani Makoro tomorrow (Friday) from 8:00 until 11:00 while public pledges were anticipated to be made today (Thursday) at Bhungeni complex and at Elim Mall on Tuesday.
Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
