THE BOOKWORMS BOOK CLUB
In April this Johannesburgbased book club celebrated its first decade, and it is still going strong. Although created out of ‘a love of reading, a love of engaging conversations around books, and a love of community’, says cofounder Lorraine Sithole, it’s become so much more than that. Not only in terms of supporting its members, but also through a strong dedication to helping others.
‘Being able to use your power and resources to help those in need is very important to me, and it is one of the cornerstones of the book club. We’re a group of women who have a lived experience of lack, and for us being able to give does not mean we have excess; it means we know how it feels not to have.’
Every year, apart from their focus on books, the Bookworms select a cause to raise funds for, and scrupulously organise their time and resources to ensure that they fulfil their objectives.
Over time they have accumulated an impressive philanthropic track record. Noteworthy achievements include providing two years’ worth of hygiene packs to more than 50 girls and women from a Vosloorus informal settlement in 2012 and raising R53 000
❛I have found my tribe. The book club has brought many meaningful relationships into my life. It has also opened me up to more genres, diverse authors and dynamic topics. And when my father died a few months ago, I was enveloped by the love and support of the group.❜– LORRAINE
for the Ekujabuleni KwaBadala Recreation Centre for senior citizens in Orlando East in 2017. More recently they have been working with an early childhood development centre in Pimville to build an interactive play area and provide reading material (a project that has been delayed by the national lockdown).
‘We have shared so many life events as we grow in years and in our minds. Before lockdown, we were meeting in person, but since then we’ve taken our gatherings online. It’s really opened us up, because we now have women joining us from all over the world. I am grateful every year for the work we are able to do as a network of women.’
If you’d like to make a contribution to philanthropic work the Bookworms do, send Lorraine an email on lsithole9@gmail.com