Children at needy crèches in Grahamstown and the surrounding area are enjoying new stories and toys thanks to recent donations aimed at ‘bringing books to the bookless’.
Biblionef, a book donation agency based in Cape Town, provides new books to schools and libraries in townships, informal settlements and rural areas throughout South Africa.
Ten carefully selected local crèches were delighted to receive a number of trunks packed with English and isiXhosa books, educational toys and posters. Among them were the Little Flower Day Care Centre, Sinakho Day Care Centre, Lahluma Day Care Centre, Luzuko Pre-School, Tyhilulwazi Pre-School, Rainbow Kids Pre-School, Masiphumelele Day Care Centre, Andrew Moyaka Pre-School, Sheilla Land Day Care Centre and Embekweni Educare Centre in Grahamstown, Bathurst, Wesley and Port Alfred.
Children at needy crèches in Grahamstown and the surrounding area are enjoying new stories and toys thanks to recent donations aimed at ‘bringing books to the bookless’.
Biblionef, a book donation agency based in Cape Town, provides new books to schools and libraries in townships, informal settlements and rural areas throughout South Africa.
Ten carefully selected local crèches were delighted to receive a number of trunks packed with English and isiXhosa books, educational toys and posters. Among them were the Little Flower Day Care Centre, Sinakho Day Care Centre, Lahluma Day Care Centre, Luzuko Pre-School, Tyhilulwazi Pre-School, Rainbow Kids Pre-School, Masiphumelele Day Care Centre, Andrew Moyaka Pre-School, Sheilla Land Day Care Centre and Embekweni Educare Centre in Grahamstown, Bathurst, Wesley and Port Alfred.
Bessie Nkonce, supervisor of Sinakho Day Care Centre, said that the learners love being read the stories. “They also like it because the books are colourful with beautiful pictures,” she said.
She particularly enjoys how the children retell and dramatise the stories. Nkonce says, “Biblionef has done a very great thing for us because we now have good resources that are developing the learners holistically.”
She has noticed that both their language and concentration have improved as a result of the books. Vera Adams, director of the Centre for Social Development at Rhodes University said feedback from the recipients had all been positive. However, she expressed concern that some home-based child care groups are still not being recognised as providing Early Childhood Development (ECD) services.
Adams suggested a loan club between the informal centres and the formal crèches that have received the books and toys.
Nonetheless, she expressed gratitude as she said this initiative has provided access to books in an environment where they are scarce.
