Class of 2018: hundreds go back to school with us this February

It’s a new school year and another chance for us to do what we do best: help children learn to read. It’s always an exciting time of the year as we meet new learners who will start their journey on our reading help programme, connect with our Volunteer Reading Helpers, both old and new, and kick off our year-long Literacy Tutor Programme.

Our Johannesburg Team Is Growing

2018 has brought some exciting changes at the Johannesburg office with the addition of four, yes, four new staff members. We are also delighted to now be fully underway with activities in Diepsloot and that the schools we are serving with our reading help model are multiplying. 2018 is the year we are taking on our greens and growing!

Expansion, growth and development in our Literacy Tutor Programme

We are delighted to introduce you to our new Literacy Tutors for 2018! These young men and women have embarked on a year-long journey that will not only equip them personally and professionally, but will also see them impact their communities by providing one-on-one reading support to learners at disadvantaged, overcrowded schools.

Our top 10 favourite children’s books about love

February is the month of love, and what better way to celebrate than scoop up your little ones and read about love and relationships. With so many wonderful, heartwarming books about love for children out there, we asked our team to share their favourite children’s books, ones we’re certain will be a hit with the little ones in your life.

We do have solutions for SA’s reading crisis

The national senior certificate results are an important annual benchmark of the state of education. In 2017, they showed some improvement, with a pass rate of 75%. But they have two major limitations.

help2read celebrates World Read Aloud Day

In the spirit of the words by the talented and inspiring Walt Disney, help2read celebrated the 2018 World Read Aloud Day by encouraging our schools, partner organisations and supporters to read aloud to their children, learners, colleagues and friends. Our enthusiastic teams went out on the day in full force, visiting schools and partner organisations to celebrate the special day.

7 Exciting Changes We’re Making To Our Volunteer Programme in 2018

With the start of the new school year, we are reminded just how valuable the contribution of our volunteers is for learners. In classrooms across the country, children are being left behind because they cannot read.

#MyReadingHelper – Meet Roger & Thimna

Roger Vestey has been an avid reader since he was a child. “I read the entire series of ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ under my bed covers with a torch for some light”, he said. Knowing the delight that reading at a young age can bring, Roger signed up as a Volunteer Reading Helper after learning about help2read at a local bookstore.

Books For Africa donates 22,000 books for help2read learners and Literacy Tutors

help2read’s primary school learners and Literacy Tutors in Wemmershoek received an amazing gift today in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Books for Africa: a book of their own to choose and take home!

#MyReadingHelper – Meet Trudy & Hope

When a hand injury left Trudy Willoughby unable to continue her career as a Physiotherapist, she looked for ways that she could make a meaningful impact through volunteering. “I came across a help2read advert for volunteers in Child’s Magazine”, she said. “I applied and this is where my journey with help2read started.”