Cape Argus donated books for World Literacy Day. Picture: Armand Hough/African News Agency(ANA)
Cape Town - Cape Argus, in collaboration with Loot, have donated a variety of books, in both English and Afrikaans, to Cape Flats Stories in celebration of World Literacy Day today, asserting the importance of literacy in individual development and the development of communities.
Cape Flats Stories founder Stanley Jacobs said these books would be assisting with two projects they were currently working on together with Siyazana Youth Development Forum (YDF).
This included the establishment of the Parkwood Community Library and Zeekoevlei Primary School, which was in need of Afrikaans books for their pupils.
“We have youngsters at the ages 12- and 13-years-old from the Cape Flats today that can’t read; some of their mothers and fathers can’t read, and we need need to change that. There is a big demand for us to step up as a community and assist these young people with reading, and helping them to read to understand,” said Jacobs.
Jacobs said promoting literacy and reading was instrumental in assisting society and communities to deal with the various socio-economic challenges they faced.
Siyazana lead volunteer Ian Miller said: “Sadly, 8 of out 10 children in South Africa cannot read properly, according to a study done by the International Progress in International Reading Literacy Study.
“This becomes worse when you add the effects of Covid-19 and the damage that it caused in our communities. Schools are limited in their resources, and with many libraries closing down, the reading and literacy issue just becomes bigger.”
Miller said this was why they aimed to promote a holistic view of reading and literacy that nurtured relationships while fostering education and knowledge for both children and adults.
“The power to be found between the pages of a book is formidable, and once you learn to read you are free,” said Independent Media Marketing Co-ordinator Rehana Rutti.
Loot marketing manager Jenna Bloch said literacy was a fundamental cornerstone to a child's education, and it opened a world of words that fostered communication, built enquiring minds and started the journey to a better understanding of the world around them.