Every year, Nelson Mandela Day (18 July) leaves a lingering smile on the faces of people who ‘paid it forward’ and donated 67 minutes of their time to spreading kindness; particularly among the poorest of the poor in our country. Passionate about education, our late president had this to say: “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”
READ Educational Trust couldn’t agree more, and we look back fondly to 1996 when Nelson Mandela was our READ patron. In keeping with this legacy, READ is always enthusiastic about collaborating with socially responsible organisations eager to make a difference in the lives of our young people.
The National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC) asked READ to assist them with their Mandela Day celebrations on 18 July this year. They wanted to deliver books to less fortunate children, and we thought it opportune to suggest the delivery of our recently launched ‘READ ALOUD MAGIC’ sets, to crèches within READ’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres across South Africa.
The three ‘READ ALOUD MAGIC’ sets available from Reading Matters, each comprise 12 beautifully illustrated books filled with magical stories set in Africa, and are broadly aimed at children from the ages of 4 to 9.
When the NHBRC co-ordinators set eyes on the sets, they were sold, and purchased enough of them to gift two ECD crèches per province, with the exception of Pretoria where four crèches were selected. In provinces where READ does not have ECD centres, children’s homes or community centres were selected instead.
Eager NHBRC volunteers handed over the Read Aloud Magic sets, after which they spent 30 minutes reading aloud to excited little ones across the country. A wonderful, enriching experience for all involved!
Should you wish to purchase one of three sets, please visit www.takealot.co.za, or directly from Reading Matters. Phone 087 237 7781, or 0800 11 65 35. Alternatively, feel free to e-mail readmat@read.co.za for further information or to order.
