Naturena Primary hosts it’s first-ever book launch

Nine learners from Naturena Primary School are now published authors, each with their books; while 10 others have their stories compiled into a book titled, Inkredible Voices.

What began as a simple reading initiative by local author and parent, Desire Mogosoane from Naturena soon evolved into something much more exciting.

Mogosoane would visit the school and read excerpts from her own books to the learners. The excitement sparked by her storytelling ignited a passion for writing among the learners, who were motivated to create their own stories.

With the assistance of the school librarian, Nancy Mashele and teacher, Jabulile Mahlambi, along with the support of principal Ishmael Mashau and SGB members, the school decided to elevate the book reading experience.

They organised a story-writing competition, which saw many entries and the top nine stories were chosen.

With a commitment to do more than just hold a competition, the school partnered with Mogosoane, who also runs the successful independent publishing house, Mvisionary Leading Publishers, to bring these stories to life in print.

Mogosoane shared: “The idea was simple: for every learner to write their own short story, showcasing their imagination and newfound love for reading. I believe in the power of young voices. The stories they wrote were not only imaginative but also full of heart and brought awareness about various social ills. I wanted to give these learners a platform to be proud of their work.”

The highlight of this literary journey took place at a vibrant book launch event at the school. The school hall was filled with proud parents, teachers, and fellow learners as the young authors were presented with copies of their own books.

Each student was awarded a trophy for their creativity and hard work. The event also featured readings from the young authors themselves, who confidently shared the inspiration behind their stories.

“This is the beginning of something special,” said Mashua, the principal. “We’ve always emphasized the importance of reading and writing, and with the help of Mogosoane, the teachers, our librarian, and SGB members, these learners have proven just how capable they are of telling their own stories.”

The books, which feature a variety of genres, are now available for purchase, with proceeds from the sales going towards upgrading the school library to further encourage learners to read and write. Naturena Primary School hopes the initiative will inspire other schools to consider similar projects which are aimed at cultivating the next generation of writers and readers.

Mashua emphasized: “With such a successful launch, it’s clear that this collaboration between author, learners and educators is just the beginning of many more creative endeavours to come.”