National literacy month
Introducing a child to reading provides them with an essential habit they will nurture for life. The sooner they learn to read, the sooner they will be exposed to more knowledge, ideas, improved linguistic skills and strong oral communication. Children with strong reading skills perform better in scholastic areas including writing development. Language and literacy are key aspects of human interaction, learning and culture, and reading can be a fun and imaginative time for children, which opens doors to all kinds of new worlds for them.
Through hearing stories, children are exposed to a wide range of words which helps them build their vocabulary and improve their understanding when they listen. Children may not understand every word, but reading allows them to hear new sounds, words and phrases. However, young children in our communities are not reading as much as they should be to ensure their mind and imagination is developed. While children in the foundation phase should be reading about 40 books a year, children in South Africa’s poorest and most under-resourced communities are only reading as little as one book a year.
South Africa was ranked last out of 50 countries in the 2016 Progress in International Reading Literacy (PIRLS) study which tested the reading comprehension of learners in their fourth year of primary schooling. 78% of South African pupils at this level could not read for meaning, a further reflection of how South Africa lags other developing countries.
Liberty Two Degrees through Sandton City and Eastgate Mall wants to continue establishing meaningful and sustainable relationships with the communities surrounding its malls and is committed to contributing to the improvement of literacy among children in South Africa.
September is National Literacy Month, therefore Liberty Two Degrees wants to give more than 6,000 young children in South Africa an opportunity to own their book to read as an important step in nurturing children’s love of reading which ultimately improves their performance at school.
For this reason, they have partnered with South African poet and writer, Athol Williams and Read to Rise, a non-profit organisation committed to promoting youth literacy in schools in South Africa's under-resourced communities.
Athol has written five high-quality children’s books (for ages 6+ years)
How can your school get involved?
We would like to encourage each and every child to read and share the joy of reading with someone else. So, for every reading book your learners and/or school purchases, we will donate the same book to an underprivileged child. Let your learners share in the importance of reading this National Literacy Month.
Follow these easy steps:
1. Visit www.readtorise.co.za/shop
2. Choose the book/s and quantity of each you wish to purchase
3. Proceed to checkout.
4. Add your school name under the notes