Martha’s Mentz Reading Paradise is instilling a love of reading
Martha Setsiba said the biggest achievement is seeing children flood the Mentz Reading Paradise's premises every Saturday.
POLOKWANE – Martha Setsiba instills the love of reading in the children in her community.
The 30-year-old from Mentz in Mankweng established Mentz Reading Paradise in 2019. She explained that it was prompted by the fact that her community does not have a library, and she decided to do something that would benefit her community.
“My mother was a reader, she used to read us bedtime stories every night. In 2016, I met my boss Mokgadi Matlakala, an avid reader who is also passionate about literature and she fueled my love for reading especially because she also owns a lot of books,” she said.
Setsiba recalls that despite having read many books growing up, one that continues to stand out is a novel she read in Gr 12 called Lenong la Gauta written by HN Bopape.
“It captured my imagination and made me realise that ‘big’ books are readable and you can finish them if the story is interesting of course. It was an investigative novel with an intention of solving a crime,” she said.
Some of the highlights for the reading club is being featured on SABC 3’s Afternoon Express show last year. The club has also secured more books from Biblionef South Africa.
“Our biggest achievement is to see kids flood our premises every Saturday. It means promoting reading for enjoyment and meaning in rural communities is slowly being realised,” she said.
She shared that some of the challenges she faces include not having shelter for rainy and cold days. As a result, they are unable to meet. Also, the club doesn’t own the space that they meet at and can be removed anytime.
Her dream is to build a library or at least influence the municipality to build one in her community as the reading club is a clear indication that it is needed.
Other than the reading club, she also has a foundation called Masechaba Charity Foundation which she uses to help children from disadvantaged families with clothes, uniforms and sanitary towels. She added that the foundation was inspired by her own background.
“I grew up with nothing and I still don’t have much. When I was young, we would sleep on an empty stomach. I used to say I’m going to open a soup kitchen when I grew up. It did not materialise but I decided to work with what I have at this point. Every Saturday when I meet with Mentz Reading Paradise children, I give then food and snack whenever I can afford it,” she explained.
