16 000 children loving books, every day

The organisation sees this as a time to reflect on what communities are doing about Nelson Mandela’s greatest passion – children.

Less than 5% of children in the area that the NGO covers have access to reading material at home and 80% of children aged 10 cannot read properly in any language, including their mother tongue.

It was for this reason that it established Penreach Books in Homes, an initiative to publish books cheaply to give every child a chance to read in almost all South African languages.

To ensure a culture of reading in communities, it established Reading Camps in communities where it trains volunteers to gather kids under a tree or any form of shelter in their homes, to read after school, enhanced with song and play activities.

Through these Reading Camps children can borrow books and read more at home.

Since the inception of the project, the organisation has witnessed a 60 to 80% improvement in reading comprehension.

The feedback from schools and parents has been overwhelming. Currently, it has 450 Reading Camps in Mpumalanga accessed by 16 000 children a day. The organisation does however need more Reading Camps and more books.

“We need more children off the streets and reading. As we once again join in the annual celebrations of the Nelson Mandela initiative, we can all play a part in solving the reading crisis, one book in the hands of every child,” said Andile Ncontsa, chief executive officer of Penreach.

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Ncontsa concluded by saying, “Each individual in the community has the ability and the responsibility to change the world for the better”.

In recognition of this special day, Penreach invites you to pledge your support to its 67 Books for 67 Reading Camps Campaign. You can order a book for R10 by sending an email to penreachbooksinhomes@penreach.co.za.