Grow knowledge, get everyone hooked on reading
ACALL to arms. Not weapons of mass destruction, and no one will get killed. The soldiers will be praised and the outcome of war? A grateful nation, its youth marching forward to a healthy democratic society in which everyone understands what it is to be human in the 21st century.
This is a call to arms for young people to get up and fight for the right of every child to read. To enjoy books and stories and to grow into an understanding of the wonders all around us: myths, mysteries and legends, wonders both human and non-human.
In the days of old, stories were told in story circles. These could be families or bigger groups – a village, for example. But, when human beings learnt to read and write, stories began to travel further and faster, and today we hear news and stories from near and far: enjoying the discoveries of similarities and differences, learning about people we will never meet, places we will never visit, and learning more about ourselves.
This appetite for knowledge and learning is stimulated in our children through early exposure to stories and books, but so many of our children live in homes in which books are either absent or seldom used. Without reading role models to encourage children to read, coaxing their minds and firing their imaginations, many children fail to become fully literate – dropping out of school and never finding meaningful employment or fully realising their potential.
Of course, we have all heard the bad news when it comes to literacy in South Africa. But here is some good news.
This is a condition we can remedy. We, the people of South Africa, can help our children become aces at reading. That is, if this is we want to see happen.
But, like everything worthwhile, it will take our willing hearts and minds to achieve such an outcome.
Why should we bother? What does it matter whether the nation’s children
FUNda Leaders is eradicating illiteracy by getting children hooked on books
read or not?
The answer is simple: Without reading, there can be no real learning. Without learning or effective education, there can be no progress, never mind transformation. In other words, reading is the basis on which all learning depends. No scientist or mathematician, doctor or lawyer, mechanic or architect can do what they do without being able to read and write.
One of the most powerful ways of growing young readers is to be a reading role model for others. This means being a reader yourself: demonstrating reading as an enjoyable and worthwhile activity and explaining directly to children why it is important.
Engage children in conversations around books: what they are reading, what you are reading and how you feel about the books you are reading. Create spaces and moments for literacy activities and conversations in everyday life.
We all want to see South Africa progress and become a strong nation, in which new things emerge: discoveries and innovations – exciting developments that will make us all feel proud of being South African. None of this – or very little of it – will happen if children continue to lag in the most fundamental skill: reading.
There is a movement in the country. It is a network called FUNda Leaders. Young and old, men and women – these are everyday people all with one thing in their hearts: to help others, and children especially, get hooked on books, reading and storytelling. To all who love their brothers and sisters, show this love.
Join the reading revolution. Reading is crucial to living. Be a life guardian, fight for the eradication of illiteracy.