This initiative is aimed at training volunteers who will visit various schools to help enhance the culture of reading.

The National Education Collaboration Trust’s coordinator, Princess Bruheim, encouraged the youth to grab this opportunity and be part of the reading revolution.

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“It’s not going to be an easy ride trying to inculcate the culture of reading, but we must always remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It doesn’t matter how many people we reach as long as we are making strides. It would be a great achievement if we can teach one child at a time, because this one child or learner will teach another in turn, until the whole village can read,” she said.

Thembi Mashaba, a media adviser of the Department of Education, advised champion readers to never shy away from volunteering, as many positives can come out of that.

She continued by saying that with the high unemployment rate in the country, this is the perfect opportunity for the youth to also build their profiles by becoming volunteers and help to make a difference.