Books are friends

 

World book day, a celebration of books and reading is celebrated each year to inspire children to read. On Saturday April 17th, Islamic Relief encouraged the importance of reading amongst those children who seldom get an opportunity to read.

 

While the fortunate progress from learning the ABC’s in nursery to completing book reviews in schools to mastering thick textbooks in university, there are many children who are missing out on this basic tool, “reading”.

 

In 2009 Islamic Relief surveyed the guardians of 345 orphans attending Islamic Relief’s community centre ‘Osizweni’ in Ennerdale, Johannesburg and found that 80% of these orphans did not have a single book in their house. Many of the guardians didn’t even understand what a book was, thinking that the Government health leaflets they had been given might qualify as books.

 

In efforts to curb these results Islamic Relief began collecting both new and used easy-to-read children’s books for children of all ages. Schools eagerly participated in collecting books, both Muslim and private schools, including Fordsburg Primary School, Tshwane Muslim School, Parkview Junior, Charter House School,  Hyde Park High school, Johannesburg Muslim School and Ridgeway College in Louis Trichardt to name a few. Book distributors, Pan Macmillan, Penguin Publishers, Heinemann Publishers, Biblionef and Exclusive books donated much needed new fiction and non-fiction books. The Rotary book club donated a further three hundred books, as well as the community in Fordsburg, Mayfair and Lenasia.

 

Residents and children of Ennerdale, Johannesburg and the nearby informal settlements gathered at Osizweni a unique community care centre on Saturday. Over 6000 books were collected through the book drive. Books were distributed to orphans and vulnerable children and their guardians, who receive ongoing support from Islamic Relief and their donors with food parcels, clothing, school equipment, counselling and training.

Over 400 orphans and 100 adults gathered and listened attentively to the messages that were given to them by principals, authors and children. Karabo Ramathe, 19, an orphan who often volunteers at the centre, wrote a poem to inspire the children. “Living is reading. Reading is studying, so mediate and inhale the words that will lengthen your life” she said. Mr Ismail Mohammed, the head teacher of social responsibilities at Al- Aqsa School explained to the community that, “Reading is a divine guardian that is sent by God”. And he introduced two pupils of the school, Lameez, 8 and Amani Sujee, 6, who confidently stood up among the crowd and explained to the children that “A winning nation is a reading nation, so read, read and enjoy reading” she said.

The day also marked the opening of the Osizweni Community Library. The aim of establishing a Library at Osizweni is to provide the children with a place they can find refuge from in  their lives and build a future. Lettie Ngubeni, Osizweni centre manager , was touched with the response from the book drive. “Thank you to all the people, you have inherited us with a treasure that we will never forget. If you read you’ll never forget” she said.

Lettie Ngubeni, Osizweni centre manager, Showing off the new Library



















Among the guests for the day, were thirty children from Sparrow Village, the first AIDS village in the world. Kenneth Mohlathe, a child and youth care worker was thrilled with this project. “I loved, the idea that the importance of reading and literature was brought to our children’s attention. The command of the English language will make them reach new spheres in life.” he said.Michaele Jenneker,12 and Kgothatso Mribe,12 from Spectrum Primary School, stood up in front of everyone and read to the children confidently, they were very excited to receive books and be part of the day.

Pride Radebe, 9, an orphan supported my Islamic Relief received two books, “It is very good to read, I’m going to read my books when I go home.” she said happily. Author of the Sibo series book collection, Ginny Stone explained her view to the children on books, “Books are just like friends, they are better than friends, they make you laugh and cry. As long as you have a book you will never be lonely, your book will always be there for you.”