Care packs for Soweto, Mitchells Plain pupils

LITERACY non-profit organisation Read to Rise is set to distribute 3 000 care packs this month in celebration of National Book Week and International Literacy Day on September 8.

From today the NPO will be visiting Grade 2 learners at primary schools in Mitchells Plain and Soweto.

Read to Rise promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities. It has conducted more than 3 600 class programmes and given out over 200 000 new story books. It works with 20 000 learners at 75 primary schools every year and is hoping to raise funds for 20 000 care packs.

Executive director Taryn Lock said: “A care pack contains an Oaky and the

Virus book, an activity book, a soap, mask, juice and snack. Oaky and the

Virus is a book that we published due to the pandemic, which hopes to help children to understand how they can avoid the virus. There is a fun song for children to sing while washing their hands. The story was written by South African poet Athol Williams and illustrated by Taryn Lock and has been translated into eight languages.”

The annual National Book Week, which celebrates books through indigenous language reading festivals across the country, will move online this year because of the pandemic.

The programme will include digital content and to-do-activities which will be presented virtually on the event’s Facebook page, respecting the boundaries of social distancing. The programme includes reading related activities, storytelling, poetry sessions, writing workshops, play-based learning and motivational talks in all South African languages.

SA Book Development Council chief executive Elitha van der Sandt said books and reading can’t cease to exist because of the pandemic.

“More than ever, it’s crucial that South Africa celebrates the importance of reading and books, hence we ask the country to join us in bringing more books to the people.”

She said the virtual format would allow the event to bring in more performers, activities and speakers who otherwise would not have been able to participate.