The over-arching objective of Mandela Day is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better, and in so doing build a global movement for good. Ultimately it seeks to empower communities everywhere. “Take Action; Inspire Change; Make Every Day a Mandela Day.” The Department of Basic Education (DBE) wishes to commemorate the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela by launching the Book Flood Campaign on 18 July 2014.
The DBE Mandela Day celebrations will focus on two Book Flood Campaigns. The first launch will take place at the DBE headquarters in Struben Street, Pretora, followed by a public launch at the Menlyn Shopping Mall in Pretoria. The Book Flood Campaign is aimed at “putting a book in every child’s hand” and making the habit of reading a right for every child. The public is invited to donate story books suitable for children between the ages of 5 and 12 years during Mandela Month at Wayne’s Court (Food Court), Menlyn Shopping Centre from 18 July to 18 August 2014.
Nelson Mandela said:
“One of the sad realities today is that very few people, especially young people, read books. Unless we can find imaginative ways of addressing this reality, future generations are in danger of losing their history.”
It is well known fact that millions of young people do not have access to a wide range of relevant and suitable reading materials. We have communities without libraries, schools without storybooks, and parents without the skill to read to their children. The overall empirical evidence is clear: the richer the learning environment in schools, the better children learn. Where schools have a library or book collection, an internet connection or a teacher’ resource centres, learners do better. Of course, such resources will assist children’s learning only if they are properly used, but they cannot be used if they are absent.
The Book Flood Campaign aims to foster a reading culture amongst learners of all age groups to read for pleasure and information beyond the frontiers of the classroom. The DBE is inviting the wider community to support the Book Flood Campaign by donating books, sponsoring libraries and library resources, starting reading clubs and book clubs and registering at schools to be volunteer readers and library assistants.
In the quest to improving the quality of basic education, the Department of Basic of Education (DBE) is committed to ensuring that schools will have well-resourced and functioning school library and information services, which will contribute towards ensuring that all learners and teachers are information literate and independent lifelong learners and readers.
The DBE is indebted to its corporate partners namely Breadline Africa, South African Rugby Union (SARU). AVBOB, South African National Parks (SANParks), Read to Rise and many others who have pledged and committed to make the National Library Campaign a reality. The Breadline initiatives have resulted in Volkswagen South Africa (VW) setting up a library at Alfonso Arries Primary in the Eastern Cape.
In pursuit of eradicating the “war against illiteracy” the Department of Basic Education in collaboration with key stakeholders and corporate partners will be promoting access to library and information services in two thousand (2000) schools starting in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. In partnership with the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa (PRAESA) the DBE will establish Reading Clubs aligned to the Nali’bali Reading Campaign in these schools.
The DBE is extending an open invitation to shopping Malls and outlets and all citizens to support the Book Flood campaign which will enable it to realize its vision “to put a book in every child’s hands”, through print and digital media so that reading becomes a national passion and habit that is enjoyed by all, irrespective of their socio-economic status.
In the words of Maya Angelou:
“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his/her deep and continuing needs, is good for him or her.”
“Donate a book and join the book flood!” during this 2014 Mandela Month.
Enquiries:
Hope Mokgatlhe
Cell: 071 680 6849
Elijah Mhlanga
Cell: 083 580 8275
