GROWING THE LOVE FOR STORIES & READING

The Nal'ibali-Lebalelo Water Association Literacy Project holiday reading programme began this week at Kwata Primary School, Shai Primary School, and Mabu Primary School in the Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo. Oscar Sekgobela, the project lead, gave three tips for keeping children engaged in your holiday reading programme. 1. Read-aloud sessions: Encouraging children to read stories aloud in front of their peers helps with language development and confidence, fostering a love of reading. 2. Drawing characters: Drawing characters from stories allows children to explore their world, develop observational skills, and build confidence through self-expression. 3. Outdoor games: Outdoor games such as hopscotch and tag improve motor skills, promote creativity and problem-solving, and foster social interaction and emotional well-being. Share some activities you do to keep the children engaged in your holiday reading club with us in the comments. Find stories to enjoy in your holiday reading programme on the link in the bio. #Nalibali #buildingaloveofstoriesandreading #literacy #holidayreadingprogramme #storytelling #education #readingforenjoyment #readingcommunity #reading #readingtime

Nal’ibali aims to address South Africa's literacy crisis, where 81% of Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning, by encouraging reading for enjoyment in their home language, providing access to books, and strengthening the reading ecosystem to create and sustain positive reading habits. The 2024 Nal'ibali Annual Report highlights our national reading-for-enjoyment campaign's strategy, achievements, and impact in 2024. Read the report on link in the bio. #nalibali #annualreport #nalibaliannualreport #literacy #education #saliteracy #pirls #ECDS #ECDcentre #school #BasicEducation #educationinsouthafrica #reading #readingcommunity #readingisfun

We are excited to announce that Madoda Ndlakuse has taken on a new role as our Community Development Coordinator. Madoda, an award-winning children's stories writer and storyteller, joined the Nal'ibali-VW Literacy Project as a Literacy Mentor in June 2016 and became a Project Lead in January 2022, serving until recently. In his new role, he will lead grassroots activation efforts to raise awareness and inspire community engagement in promoting male involvement in early childhood literacy. This includes managing Men’s Literacy Hubs, supporting trauma-informed literacy sessions, fostering community partnerships, training facilitators, and mobilising male reading role models. The role contributes to our national movement addressing intergenerational literacy gaps and the father wound, ensuring community-driven and sustainable impact. Congratulations, Madoda, on your new role! #Nalibali #literacy #education #storytelling #stories #educationforall #earlyliteracydevelopment

The Nal’ibali Eastern Cape team recently entertained festival-goers at the Eastern Cape Literature Festival, held at Village Green in Makhanda. The festival, powered by the @nationalartsfestival , is a bold gathering of books, music, and culture that highlights the importance of literature, allowed our team to use reading and storytelling to educate about child protection. Nal’ibali, with the support of the @sportsartsculturersa and the EC Literature Festival, set up a dedicated reading area at Village Green filled with copies of the Nal’ibali reading supplement and a selection of books that cover a wide range of child-friendly topics. Children and parents were encouraged to explore the Nal'ibali reading corner and enjoy stories. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with laughter and curiosity, as families engaged with the materials and each other, fostering a community spirit around reading. In addition to the reading corners, Nal'ibali hosted a storytelling session led by story-sparkers, where children's stories were brought to life. Interactive story readings were also held, allowing young participants to follow along with story-sparkers as stories were read aloud. These activities aimed to educate both children and adults about the importance of child protection and how to create environments where children are safe. Creating environments where children are safe is essential for their development and well-being. By creating spaces where reading and storytelling are used to educate communities about child safety, we empower both children and adults to engage in meaningful conversations about child protection and support, ensuring every child can thrive in a nurturing atmosphere. Support Nal'ibali's work in growing literacy in South Africa by donating on the link in the bio. #LitFest2025 #naf2025 #ArtsFestival2025 #literature #literacy #readingcommunity #readingcommunity #ReadingForFun #readingforenjoyment #nalibali