Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg reading programmes inspire love for books
From Soweto classrooms to one-on-one reading sessions, the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg is proving that just twenty minutes with a book can change a child’s future.
For children at Thabasile Primary School in Soweto, just twenty minutes can open up a whole new world. Twice a week, Grade 2 learners sit with volunteer parents from the Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg (DSJ), reading stories, stumbling over new words, and slowly building the confidence that turns hesitant whispers into proud voices.
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This is the heart of the Thabasile Reading Project, a simple but powerful initiative that pairs young pupils with readers who give them time, encouragement, and patience. At the end of the year, each child is given a book of their own – often the very first to find a place in their home. For many families, that small gift becomes a symbol of possibility, a step towards breaking the cycle where nearly eight out of ten South African ten-year-olds cannot read with understanding.
The DSJ’s commitment to literacy does not end there. Within its own walls, the school has been running the Reading Mentor Programme since May 2020. Here, around 50 primary school children each year meet weekly with a mentor, either one-on-one or in pairs. These sessions, usually no longer than twenty minutes, are designed to do more than teach vocabulary or improve comprehension; they aim to spark curiosity, grow imagination, and instil a lasting love for books.
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The children who take part often discover more than stories; they learn concentration, empathy, and ways of seeing the world that extend far beyond the classroom. The mentors, meanwhile, witness first-hand the transformation that comes from consistent, personal attention.
Together, the Thabasile Reading Project and the Reading Mentor Programme remind us that literacy is not just about decoding words on a page; it is about connection, confidence, and the gift of imagination. On World Literacy Day, DSJ’s efforts stand as a testament to the power of community in shaping brighter futures… One story at a time.
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