A donation from a local bookstore kickstarted a library at Inanda Primary School, after its owner spotted a teacher’s struggle for reading resources in a local newspaper.
The article that Durban resident Warren Halford read was about a young township teacher who, frustrated by the lack of a school library, had started a growing book club to inspire her pupils to read.
He read that the teacher had taken up the challenge to stimulate a love for reading and started a book club which was gaining traction.
Mr Halford read that the teacher had previously headed up one of The Domino Foundation’s educational programmes, and he decided to make contact. He connected with Nicky Walton, Domino Foundation education co-ordinator and as a result, he donated 600 fiction and non-fiction books to the school.
“Spending time with Nicky’s team, I heard about their collaboration with The LEARN Project. Their goal is to equip underserved schools with reading books and to create sustainable libraries and classroom book corners,” said Mr Halford. “Hearing that the basic minimum number of books to launch a library project is 1 200, I wasted no time in committing to donate the balance of another 600 books.”
This is how the initiative to put in place the building blocks for Inanda Primary School’s library begun.
Mr Makhosonke Ngubane, Inanda Primary School deputy principal, has been desperate for this support. He submitted an application to The LEARN Project last year.
“We are so excited that this project is beginning. Much has yet to be done before those initial 1 200 books make their way to our shelves,” said Mr Ngubane.
“The school room which has been proposed as the venue for the library has a roof leak. The books will have to be covered and coded into the library system. The walls need painting, flooring needs to be laid and shelving installed to turn it into a suitable space that nurtures the love for reading. This will also mean the opening of doors for the pupils at Inanda Primary School to read.”
Anyone who wants to be part of this initiative can Ms Walton on 031 110 7030 or at education@domino.org.za