Penreach distributing partner for Book Dash in Mpumalanga

Insights from Field Advisors

Project: Asidlaleni Toy Library & Umphakatsi: Early Reading

Distribution Area: Daantjie community Toy Library and children living in Mafambisa community

“The joy of children receiving books are profound” says Solly Sarela, Penreach Community Based Programme Manager.  Smiles and excitement were the order of the day as the Book Dash children’s books were received by our beneficiaries in the Daantjie and Mafambisa community.

Book Dash is an NGO who gathers creative volunteers to create new African storybooks that anyone can freely print, translate and distribute.  They believe every child should own a hundred books by the age of five. In South Africa, that means giving 600 million free books to children who could never afford to buy them. Penreach is a distributing partner for Book Dash as part of our early reading programme for a literate South Africa.

The Book Dash donation of 2 180 books was received by Penreach Books in Homes in July 2019 with many titles in English, Sepedi, Setswana, Xitsonga, isiZulu, isiXhosa and Tshivenda. These books are culturally relevant and engages children with beautiful illustrations.

Children now own a book, and are able to visit our Toy Libraries and Reading Camps for additional reading. Reading changes lives by empowering young children, strengthening families and building community through literacy.

The delivery of the books was such an amazing experience to see and feel the children’s excitement, smiling faces and happy caregivers.  Non centre-based practitioners were overwhelmed in gratitude to see their children receiving these kinds of books, with interesting illustrations and stories written in their home language.

Sarela commented that most children in our communities don’t have books at home. Schools and ECD centres have insufficient books. The only time these children access books are in a few high schools or in tertiary libraries.

It is known that children who have access to books at home and school, learn to read at an accelerated pace. Reading books promotes concentration and focus. Early reading is important as it allows children to develop creativity and an inquiring mind to facilitate learning.

Thank you Book Dash for supporting our communities through our Literacy initiatives.

Inquire about affordable books with us at Penreach Books In Homes penreachbooksinhomes@penryn.co.za