POST PROMOTES READING
To help promote social cohesion, and as part of our social responsibility, POST donated more than 290 new books, valued at over R20 000, to Silverglen Primary School in Chatsworth on Thursday. The POST editorial team and teaching staff handed out the story books to excited pupils, who “oohed” and “aahed” when they got to hold them.
SMALL acts of kindness not only help promote social cohesion, but also have lasting, positive effects.
So said Lindiwe Myende, the area circuit manager of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education when POST donated more than 290 new books to a Chatsworth primary school last week.
The books, valued at over R20 000, have helped fill the shelves of Silverglen Primary School’s new library. The gesture, said POST editor Krisendra Bisetty, was part of the paper’s drive to foster social cohesion.
“Silverglen Primary was one of the first schools built for Indians in the heart of Chatsworth almost 50 years ago. But times have changed and now most of the pupils are from outlying, also disadvantaged areas,” he said.
“We all experience the hunger and thirst for knowledge. Unfortunately, the Education Department is not always able to provide such basic needs as books. So it is left to schools. But many have other pressing needs, too, which they have to fund. So when the principal pleaded with us to help realise her dream of a better stocked library so that her charges could get caught up in the world of books and reading, we were only too happy to oblige.”
The funds were raised from an auction at the recent POST Golf Day, for which the Wild Coast Sun, Golden Jewellers and Fleur De Lis Spa sponsored prizes. Property company Broll chipped in with additional funds and Bargain Books not only provided a generous discount, but added more books to the lot selected by the teachers.
“Bargain Books is always looking for ways to assist in making a meaningful difference in the lives of children,” said the company’s marketing manager Bianca Adendorff. “There really isn’t anything better than seeing the way books and reading make a difference in the lives of children.”
Softdrink maker Coo-ee provided some of the treats for the school’s 200 pupils when the books were delivered last week.
Excited pupils “oohed” and “aahed” at the assembly area when they caught sight of the books, and their smiles widened when each of them was given one to hold.
Said Myende: “As much as we, as the Department of Education, step in and help schools, this initiative is great because it shows that education is everyone’s business. I just wish others would come out and donate like this. It may be small to you but it has a gigantic impact on learners.”
Myende also applauded principal Kamaladevi Govender for her hard work during her seven years at the school.
“She came in when there were only 72 learners and grew it to 200. She also set goals for herself and achieved three of them – to build a computer room, a science room and the library. “But she is not done yet.” Govender said the “noble contribution” of POST would not only benefit the current generation of pupils but also subsequent ones.
“We have a lot of children from underprivileged homes attending our school and seeing a library and new books is a first for many of them.”
The pupils are mainly from Dassenhoek, Mariannridge, Pinetown and Welbedacht.
Govender said most of them had not ventured outside their residential and school areas and had therefore not seen much of the outside world.
“But with these books, they can journey with the authors in our very own library.”
The school believes it is incorrectly ranked by the department as Quintile 5 (well off), because of its location and perception that locals can afford the fees and costs to maintain and keep it adequately resourced.
But most of its pupils are from disadvantaged communities.
Speaking of the challenges the school faced, Govender said the biggest was funding.
“About 91% of our learners are African, who come from single parent or grandparent homes or worse, child-headed homes. We are an underfunded and under-resourced school. It is ranked Quintile 5, which seems incorrect because we are on the highest ranking but lowest in terms of funding per learner.”
It is hard for the school to make ends meet and they are grateful to the community for its support.
“Ninety-five percent of learners are provided with sandwiches daily, which the community donates. In addition, the learners receive school uniforms, school shoes, stationery, groceries, blankets and other items when available, either from individuals or organisations. Businesses and religious organisations have also been generous, providing sports equipment, benches, spectacles and toiletries.”
POST is widely read at the school, with many features from its pages, including on bullying and women, taking pride of place in the library, corridors and elsewhere.
The paper, said Govender, was a great learning resource.
The school’s vice-chairperson, Musa Mbokozi, was thrilled with the new books, saying they would make the children more eager to attend school.
“We are grateful that our school, which has predominately black pupils, was chosen. Our kids are building relationships with one another and seeing the support from another race group helps strengthen this bond.”
Eddie Govender, president of the Silverglen Civic Association, was also at the school last week.
“This contribution will go a long way in nurturing young minds. This partnership with POST is what our schools need to instil in our pupils the importance of reading,” he said. “Reading opens them to new possibilities as leaders of the future.”
Silverglen Primary head girl Letty Makore said: “Each book will help a child develop his or her ability to dream big and achieve bigger. Here at Silverglen Primary we are determined to fulfil legacies started by our forefathers, who knew knowledge was power and that there was no more powerful a tool than reading.”