Promoting Literacy in South Africa's townships

This July, starting on Mandela Day, South African literacy organisation, help2read, together with its young township leaders in the Western Cape Winelands community of Wemmershoek hosted the first hugely successful holiday reading clubs for the children of Wemmershoek and its neighbouring communities of Saagmeule, La Motte, Groendal and Langrug.  The clubs were held at Wemmershoek Primary School and more than 200 children attended to have fun, read aloud, play act the stories or engage in literacy and word games to build their love of reading.

Learners between the ages of 6 to 12 years participated in this week-long holiday programme designed to promote literacy development in a creative and recreational way.  The holiday clubs have emerged out of help2read’s Literacy Tutor (LT) programme which has the dual goal of building the employability and skills of youth whilst providing reading help to struggling learners.  Whilst LTs operate in term time to provide dedicated one-on-one reading help and literacy skills development activities during term time, come the holidays it is time to engage learners in more playful ways that build literacy skill and a love of reading.  Games, songs, playacting stories and collective reading of books go a long way to improve skills of comprehension and vocabulary.

help2read’s Literacy Tutor-led Holiday Reading Clubs provide a bridge for learners to remain engaged with learning outside the classroom until school resumes. It also supports parents by providing safe, recreational and educational spaces for development.