POLOKWANE – A group of businesswomen and entrepreneurs recently came together to celebrate World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) with schools in Polokwane, aiming to promote and encourage a love for reading within the community.

One of the schools they visited was Laerskool Pietersburg Noord (Noordskool). The team included Selinah Ntjana, author of ‘Selinah the Goat’; Omphemetse Munyai from the Wamashudu Munyai Foundation; Nthabiseng Chauke from the Finding Me Kids Book Club; Maphuti Mongatane from African Farming; paint artist Elisha Maylin Nell; and Gift Mamasela from Selinah the Goat Agri. Together, they engaged learners with various educational activities last Wednesday.

Chauke welcomed learners and teachers, and explained the significance of the day and its purpose. Ntjana then read ‘Selinah the Goat’ aloud, followed by an interactive session where she asked the learners questions about the story. Mongatane spoke about the benefits of farming, helping learners understand its role in daily life.

Learners who participated actively and answered questions were rewarded with medals, certificates, and T-shirts as a token of appreciation for their enthusiasm and engagement.

As the event progressed, the learners were thrilled to hear about a surprise guest waiting outside. In anticipation, they were encouraged to call out “Mr Cow” three times, upon which the mascot entered the hall, waving and jumping as he made his way to the stage, high-fiving excited learners along the way.

The teachers then selected a few learners to share their own stories in a storytelling session. To conclude the event, Munyai highlighted the importance of WRAD, which is celebrated on the first Wednesday of February each year. She said the day not only brings joy through storytelling but also raises awareness of literacy as a human right. “WRAD celebrates the power of reading aloud and encourages both children and adults to pick up a book,” she said.

In addition to Noordskool, the team also visited Noordjieland Pre-Primary School, PCS, and Dendron Primary School during the same week, bringing the same message of literacy and fun to more young learners.