In honour of Africa’s timeless tradition of telling stories, and in celebration of Mandela Month, Monash South Africa (MSA) held a book launch in Ruimsig on 16 July.
The university has collaborated with publisher of African children’s books, the Ducere Foundation, to curate and print a collection of stories written by local primary school pupils from the Zandspruit community. The book will be distributed by MSA to schools in the tertiary institution’s community engagement programme.
In 2014, the campus collected and donated thousands of books to the children in nearby communities as part of their Mandela Month activities. This year, these children have written the book for MSA to share. The stories within the book will serve as an African alternative to the many children’s books written from a Western point of view.
“The need for intellectual development and stimulation while inspiring critical thinking remains a pressing issue, particularly within the South African context. Too many of our young people are not receiving the tools to enable the education they deserve. By providing reading materials, and nurturing a love of books and stories in our children, we take a step closer toward ensuring their academic success later on in life,” said Craig Rowe, director of engagement at the university.
The stories are part of the “This is Me” community service programme, managed by MSA second year student, Sahl Karim. The students continuously lend support to schools in the surrounding area of Zandspruit, by teaching learners literacy skills while mentoring the students and encouraging a love of learning.
“The value of storytelling and literacy in education simply cannot be overstated, but the key lies in providing culturally appropriate material so that young and creative minds can truly flourish. By encouraging children to write the stories they would most like to hear, we can ensure that pupils engage with their education in a way that is meaningful to them,” added Ducere Foundation’s Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, Terri Irvin.
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