An innovative “book garden” to encourage the public to donate books for disadvantaged schools has been set up at Hemingways Mall.
The Book Flood campaign, a national initiative taken up locally by the provincial education department, aims at ensuring that every learner has access to quality reading materials.
The department has partnered with Hemingways in the initiative.
Education Libraries and Information Services (Edulis) province head Nomawethu Jonas said the campaign was a national drive with the objective to “flood” schools with books by encouraging members of the public and the private sector to donate books.
A book garden was set up at the Checkers court and officially opened on Saturday by representatives of the department and the centre.
Shoppers will be able to drop off their donations at the garden, which consists of donation boxes, flowers and a reading corner.
The garden will be at the mall for five months.
Jonas said research undertaken in many parts of the world attested to the success of “book floods”, showing substantial improvement of reading levels in classrooms. “Most of our learners are suffering because they have no libraries and those who have libraries do not have enough books.
“As the department, we encourage learners to read more but unfortunately we cannot provide adequate books to schools. Through this campaign we hope that will change,” Jonas said.
The books will be collected every month and distributed to disadvantaged schools in the province.
Mall marketing manager Estée Roos said they were proud partners of an initiative that sought to promote literacy.
“Literacy is very important and this is a perfect opportunity for our shoppers to give their favourite story books a new home.
“People are welcome to sit down and read in the reading corner,” Roos said.
The launch was celebrated with show-stopping performances by the Gonubie Primary School Marimba Band and the Grens Hoërskool choir.
After the performances children listened attentively to stories read to them.
Roos said to ensure the success of the initiative, the mall would be speaking to principals to encourage learners to donate as well. The initiative will also be promoted via social media.
‘Flooding’ campaign improves reading
The Book Flood campaign, a national initiative taken up locally by the provincial education department, aims at ensuring that every learner has access to quality reading materials.
The department has partnered with Hemingways in the initiative.
Education Libraries and Information Services (Edulis) province head Nomawethu Jonas said the campaign was a national drive with the objective to “flood” schools with books by encouraging members of the public and the private sector to donate books.
A book garden was set up at the Checkers court and officially opened on Saturday by representatives of the department and the centre.
Shoppers will be able to drop off their donations at the garden, which consists of donation boxes, flowers and a reading corner.
The garden will be at the mall for five months.
Jonas said research undertaken in many parts of the world attested to the success of “book floods”, showing substantial improvement of reading levels in classrooms. “Most of our learners are suffering because they have no libraries and those who have libraries do not have enough books.
“As the department, we encourage learners to read more but unfortunately we cannot provide adequate books to schools. Through this campaign we hope that will change,” Jonas said.
The books will be collected every month and distributed to disadvantaged schools in the province.
Mall marketing manager Estée Roos said they were proud partners of an initiative that sought to promote literacy.
“Literacy is very important and this is a perfect opportunity for our shoppers to give their favourite story books a new home.
“People are welcome to sit down and read in the reading corner,” Roos said.
The launch was celebrated with show-stopping performances by the Gonubie Primary School Marimba Band and the Grens Hoërskool choir.
After the performances children listened attentively to stories read to them.
Roos said to ensure the success of the initiative, the mall would be speaking to principals to encourage learners to donate as well. The initiative will also be promoted via social media.
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