Explore a whole new world through reading
Penreach's Literacy Week aims to show the importance of reading from an early age and instill a love for knowledge
According to leading South African universities, a child’s ability to achieve academic success is determined by his or her ability to read by the age of 10. Yet, research showed that fewer than five per cent of parents in South Africa read to their children.
It is for this reason that organisations like Penreach support reading initiatives during National Literacy Week.
The action-packed week kicked off on Friday, September 1 with the Penreach Asifundze Orals hosted at the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature. A total of 130 grade four to seven learners participated in oral competitions. They impressed the adjudicators with poetry, prepared speeches, unprepared reading and drama.
The Read-a-Thon took place on Thursday, September 7 and involved 30 schools at the Msogwaba Hall in Pienaar.
Literacy was celebrated by the 330 participants in the form of storytelling, reading and choral verses. Guest speaker and local bibliophile, Bobo Lukhele, shared her passion for reading with the children, encouraging them to help build a reading nation.
As part of the activities for National Book Week and Literacy Day, the Penreach Early Childhood Development (ECD) team paid visits to communities in Barberton and Matsulu. The Penreach programme celebrated literacy with 377 children (aged three to four years) from 22 ECD centres.
The children enjoyed activities including story time, an educational puppet show, and music and movement.
More than 2,2 million South Africans cannot read or write. Penreach reached a total of 1 075 learners and 118 educators during Literacy Week.
