Academics, language teachers, literacy facilitators and activists, and NGO staff concerned with promoting the development of reading and literacy will come together in Grahamstown for the annual Reading Association of South Africa (Rasa) conference next month.
Academics, language teachers, literacy facilitators and activists, and NGO staff concerned with promoting the development of reading and literacy will come together in Grahamstown for the annual Reading Association of South Africa (Rasa) conference next month.
The conference comes hot on the heels of a separate, dynamic reading campaign this National Book Week, from 1-7 September.
Over seven days, the campaign's travelling bus will transport National Book Week ambassadors, motivational speakers, authors, storytellers and a toy library to towns from Ganyesa in the North West Province to Worcester in the Western Cape, spreading the love of reading to some of the country’s remotest parts.
"In each province, the power of books – and how reading can create connections and grow knowledge no matter the distance – will be highlighted in multi-faceted localised programmes, which include reading in indigenous languages, storytelling and motivational talks, word-a-thon, poetry sessions, book debates plus many more," organisers said in a media statement.
Parallel to this, as part of the South African Book Development Council’s (SABDC) Indigenous Languages Publishing Programme, the campaign will also be giving away to every child/adult that they engage with along the way a brand new book in the language of the region.
Hosted on the Rhodes campus from 12-14 September, the Rasa conference will feature keynote speakers including Dr Russell Kaschula, Chair of African Languages at Rhodes and Dr Shelley O’Carroll, Director of the Wordworks organisation in Cape Town, among others.
A number of publishers will have stands at the conference, alongside displays from local literacy organisations such as Upstart and the Lebone Literacy Programme.
More at readingassociation.org.za, NationalBookWeekSA on Facebook and on Twitter, @NBW_SA / #GOINGPLACES
