Spreading the joy of reading
Esisimo Network Foundation promotes literacy in rural areas and townships and its Mobile Kiddies Book Club is doing the rounds in Durban public parks.
A NON-PROFIT company, Esisimo Network Foundation, is on a mission to encourage reading among children and young people in the community.
The organisation promotes literacy in rural areas and townships and its Mobile Kiddies Book Club is doing the rounds in Durban public parks, where children are invited to take any story books they are no longer needing to donate to the club, or to exchange their books for others at the club.
“At the mobile club events in local parks, we do book reviews with the children, poems and storytelling, and afterwards we play games with children to make them to enjoy reading and have fun while reading,” said Sindi Dlamini, one of the directors of Esisimo Network Foundation.
Last month the Mobile Kiddies Book Club visited Umbilo Park for a book exchange. The Department of Libraries was invited, and Kerry Paddon from Umbilo Library was there to encourage children to make use of libraries. A representative from eThekwini International Relations Department also attended, based on the relationship Esisimo Network Foundation has with Leeds City Council in UK.
“Leeds is a Durban Sister City. In 2018 I had some sessions with Child Friendly Leeds, one of the programmes for Leeds City Council. Child Friendly Leeds donated eight boxes of children's story books towards our Mobile Kiddies Book Club in 2019,” explained Sindi.
The manager for Umbilo Park spoke on taking care of parks by being environmentally friendly and children were treated to entertainment by Cherry the Clown, Adi Paxton, and poet, Sandi Khuzwayo.
The Foundation also collaborates with primary schools in suburbs with the aim of getting donations of story books from learners. These books are used to set up mini libraries at creches and nursery schools in KwaNgcolosi, Mzinyathi, Inanda and Emachobeni.
Anyone who would like the Mobile Kiddies Book Club to visit their area, can contact Sindi on esisimo.network@gmail.com. The foundation also welcomes donations of books and funding or sponsorship.
