Nal’ibali’s World Read Aloud Day is becoming one of the biggest literacy drives in South Africa, reaching thousands of children and adults every year in its bid to raise awareness of the importance of reading aloud for children’s literacy development and school success.
The event is taking place on February 1 and the campaign is calling on the nation’s support as it aims to break its read-aloud record by reaching one million children or more across the country.
The event, which follows the release of the results of a global literacy study revealing the true magnitude of SA’s literacy crisis, holds a special significance not only as a milestone for the Nal’ibali campaign, but as an opportunity for all South African adults to take action as they grapple with the news that 78 percent of Grade Four children in SA cannot read for meaning in any language.
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Nal’ibali managing director, Jade Jacobsohn said,”Reading aloud, and particularly in-home languages, is one of the most important things caregivers can do for their children.
“By exposing them to the sophisticated words and language not common in conversation, this simple activity helps young children, and even babies, build a strong language foundation and develop their vocabularies.”
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Every year Nal’ibali celebrates World Read Aloud Day by commissioning a brand-new story and translating it into all 11 official languages, before asking South Africans to join them in reading it aloud to the children in their lives.
This year, the special story has been written by an acclaimed South African author, Zukiswa Wanner, and is freely available for download from the Nal’ibali’s web- and mobisites (www.nalibali.org and www.nalibali.mobi).
This year's World Read Aloud Day story is 'The final minute' by Zukiswa Wanner. Make your pledge https://t.co/mAyE4eg7kQ to read this story to your little ones on the 1st of February, along with the rest of the country. Don't get left behind #WRADChallenge2018 pic.twitter.com/fmLH3pfbRA
— Nal'ibali (@nalibaliSA) January 23, 2018
Kickstarting this year’s initiative held last Wednesday at Boitumelo Pre-School in Dobsonville, the brand ambassador Hlubikazi Mboya-Arnold said, “Today’s event is a call to action to parents to read aloud for their children, schools and community.
“Today’s event is a call to action parents to read aloud for their children, schools and community. This is the first-day care centre I’ve visited.
“The story I’ve read for the centre’s learners is about the game of soccer. The story encourages both sexes to participate in the sport and should be seen as equal. Reading helps to improves children’s ability to write, spelling and grammar,” said Mboya-Arnold.
She was reading to 30 learners from the centre who were excited to be part of the initiative.
Our ambassador @HlubiMboya is doing her bit for #WorldReadAloudDay.She will be reading to 40 children.Will you join the challenge? #WRADChallenge2018 pic.twitter.com/z83bOgqXj1
— Nal'ibali (@nalibaliSA) January 17, 2018
Mboya-Arnold will be reading the same story February 1 at Nal’ibali’s World Read Aloud Day event. The school principal Busisiwe Ramokadi said that the event helped her children get a head start.
“The learners were excited that a celebrity who they often see on television was reading a story for them. Our school have been involved with Nal’ibali since last year,” said Ramokadi.
People wishing to participate in Nal’ibali’s World Read Aloud Day can visit www.nalibali.org or www.nalibali.mobi to download the official story in any official SA language and pledge the number of children they will be reading to.
Participants are also encouraged to share pictures of their read-aloud sessions on Nal’ibali’s Facebook and Twitter platforms: @NalibaliSA, or use the hashtag #WRADChallenge2018 on the day.
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