Smart Little Brains introduces children to publishing industry
Smart Little Brains organisation teaches children the relationship between trees and books as they continue to encourage and promote a reading culture in Alexandra.
Smart Little Brains, the collective of English language literacy advocates based in Alexandra, held an inspired book launch and tree-planting ceremony at the Alexandra Children’s Library – celebrating the relationship between books and trees.
Founded in 2023 by Mbalenhle Mwale, the organisation aims to inspire hope in education within disadvantaged communities. Throughout 2024, Mwale has arranged for participants in her programme to gain practical experience in book-making, and the publishing process—an initiative that has seen the children learn more about both the process behind making books and the importance of trees in literature publication.
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“Today is us going through the books that they have created for themselves,” Mwale said. “I was able to instruct the children to create books every month. With that, I just wanted to test their knowledge of books. With the help of their parents, the children had to create their books, with content and a spine, and act as illustrators, editors, and publishers.”
Mwale celebrated the organisation’s planting endevours. “The planting of the trees that we’re doing today is a continuation of what we started in June with Farmers Market Yethu, when the children were given seedlings to grow green peppers using compost. We’re planting fruit trees today, plums and peaches.”
Mwale also spoke about how Smart Little Brains had partnered with Farmer’s Market Yethu a few months ago to teach participating young scholars the importance of subsistence farming, including how to plant and create compost.
“It is pivotal that children of all ages are taught and exposed to clean living and eating habits through exercise, food waste management, and collaborative efforts with like-minded organizations as this will increase children’s life expectancy and decrease their chances of falling ill,” said Mwale.
“Our organisation prides itself on being more than just an after-school programme as it also caters to the holistic needs of its scholars and the community. We hope to do more seeing that we are now in partnership with the Green Development Foundation (GDF) and Sankofa Solutions.”
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