School holidays are around the corner. We’ve seen many learners make great progress in their reading over the past school term, but we know all too well that if children put down their books over the holidays, their reading ability can drop.
“Readers are leaders”. It’s a saying that’s often used to inspire children to read and rightly so. Books play a powerful role in developing the young minds of future leaders and it’s not hard to see why when you begin to unpack the many benefits of reading.
From launching programmes at new schools to partnering with universities to train future teachers, 2018 has been a fun-filled, action-packed year so far. We have seen a lot of exciting growth in various areas, and are thrilled to see so many new wonderful volunteers and Literacy Tutors join our programmes, each one making a lasting impact on the lives of children in South Africa.
LEGO is a powerful tool for playful learning, especially when it comes to learning to read. We recently partnered with Care For Education to incorporate LEGO Duplo into our Book Boxes at schools and external partners.
help2read is very privileged to have some of the best volunteers in the country. They are dedicated, passionate and completely committed to their learners. They do an outstanding job of helping learners improve reading skills and cultivate a love of books. They consistently give off their time with such love and passion, expecting nothing in return.
This year we celebrated South African Library Week and World Storytelling Day across the Western Cape and Gauteng with a number of exciting activities to motivate learners to visit their local library and get reading.
My journey with help2read started in 2010 after I retired as an accountant. After returning from an overseas holiday, I came back refreshed and saw an advertisement in our local community newspaper, The Athlone News, in which help2read advertised for volunteers to assist children to read at local schools.
Every week, our Volunteer Reading Helpers and Literacy Tutors sit down with learners in schools across the country for one-on-one reading sessions. The aim of these sessions: to help children learn to read. While the purpose of the weekly reading support might be simple, the ripple effect is hugely significant.
Last week, we celebrated South African Library Week. The theme for this year’s Library Week, Libraries – The heart of the community, was truly apt and highlighted the vital role that libraries play in the communities that they serve.
On 14 February, we celebrated International Book Giving Day, commemorating the joy of giving and the treasure of owning a book. This year, we commemorated International Book Giving Day by gifting each learner on our programme with a brand new book. The day perfectly coincided with Valentine’s Day, and what better way for us to show love than by gifting books!
Registered SA Non-Profit 063-979 PBO 930027054 UK Charity Reg No. 1109567 Registered Office: Oak Farm Cottage, Mill Street, Gislingham, Suffolk, IP23 8JT
