Nal’ibali initiative brings sick children smiles through reading
EXPOSURE to literacy at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is growing, thanks to a partnership between the Nal’ibali national reading-for-enjoyment campaign, and the Friends of the Children’s Hospital Association.
They have joined hands to provide non-medical support by ensuring all of the nine wards have a functioning reading club, and that regular individual readings will take place for children in high-care wards.
The initiative aims to “help make a sick child smile”, and minimise anxiety for for patients and parents.
Nal’ibali spokesperson Sally Mills said: “We are honoured to bring reading-for-enjoyment to children at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital. We also want to encourage parents to engage more with children, using books and stories. Reading for enjoyment can bring fun and help create good memories, even when done from a hospital bed.”
Nal’ibali was established on the premise that a culture of reading can be a game-changer for education in South Africa.
Literacy skills are a strong predictor of future academic success in all subjects – and children who regularly read and hear engaging stories, in languages they understand, are well equipped and motivated to learn to read and write, they say on their website.
“The campaign values the power of language and cultural relevance in literacy development. For reasons relating to empowerment, pedagogy, identity and democracy, Nal’ibali fully promotes reading and writing in mother tongue languages.
‘‘All children and adults need to understand what they are listening to, or reading, for it to be meaningful and enjoyable – which is crucial for raising readers,” the website says.
The libraries will include books in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa to create an all-inclusive approach, and to provide both patients and parents with access to quality information, and stimulation in a language they are comfortable with.