TONGA – Readathon is a project involving several schools, businesses and the Read Business Trust, which supports schools with literacy development. Every year dozens of schoolchildren in Tonga join forces to hit the streets for this campaign.
Ellen Dlamini, the Rally to Read provincial coordinator, explained that the involved teachers are trained in new ways of educating and that this project is a practical way to involve the community. “Every year pupils from grade R to grade seven in Nkomazi get together and show the community that even the grade R kids can read. We tell them that they can also teach their children how to read at home. If you build a strong foundation of reading, children will love to learn,” she said.
The event took place on November 28 and started at Tonga View Primary where speakers, including Mr Kenneth Phiri from RCL Foods, emphasised the importance of reading and handed out reading materials
The group, dressed in colourful outfits and paper hats and armed with posters, marched to the Tonga Police Station and Tonga Mall chanting, “The more you read, the more you learn”. There they approached community members, read to them and told them about the advantages of reading.
Community members were very receptive and many took the time to patiently listen to the youngsters. They were rewarded with a book for their efforts.
The children enjoyed the outing and interacted with adults, which helped improve their reading and people skills.
Dlamini stated that they hoped to inspire people when they saw the children’s enthusiasm. She encouraged people to read wherever they are and to the entire family, “even to your newborn baby”.
