GROWING THE LOVE FOR STORIES & READING

Snip, fold, keep… and just like that, a love for reading grows. In Rustenburg, our newspaper supplements aren’t just being read, they’re being kept. Children are cutting out their favourite stories, folding pages, and saving them to take home, creating little personal collections they can return to again and again. With GLOW supporting four reading clubs in local schools, these supplements have become more than a once-off resource. They’re sparking creativity, encouraging ownership, and helping children build their own growing libraries, one cut-out story at a time. This is the power of accessible reading materials: they don’t just reach children, they stay with them.

When Grade 7 Reading Ambassadors step forward to read aloud to Foundation Phase reading clubs, reading for enjoyment comes alive across the entire school. At Kuhle Primary School in Border Post, this powerful approach means reading is not confined to one group or one time. It flows through classrooms, corridors, and gatherings, creating a culture where learners see reading as something to enjoy, share, and look forward to every day. Older learners become role models and storytellers. Younger learners gain confidence, imagination, and excitement for books. Together, they build a living reading community that strengthens learning at every level. This is the strength of a truly functional reading club model. It transforms reading from an activity into a school-wide experience. Watch as Grade 7 Reading Ambassadors read to younger children. #ReadingForEnjoyment #ReadingClubs #Nalibali #EveryChildReads #LiteracyMatters

The SEF team in Sekororo is transforming the way children in Sekororo and surrounding areas in Limpopo experience reading. They’re transforming reading by creating a cosy, inviting environment: laying out a blanket, sitting at the children’s level, and making reading feel safe, relaxed, and enjoyable rather than formal or intimidating. That simple setup: • makes children feel comfortable and included • turns reading into a shared, social experience • helps them associate books with warmth and care, not pressure It’s not just reading, it’s how the reading happens that builds connection and love for stories. #NalibaliSEF #SEF #ReadingForAll #StoriesComeAlive #ReadingForEnjoyment

Building stories, one brick at a time. The LEGO DUPLO 6 Bricks approach is opening up new ways to bring literacy and storytelling into the SEF team’s work within communities. Using just six bricks per child, this simple yet powerful tool makes it easy to spark imagination, strengthen language development, and build narrative skills. From read aloud sessions at ECD centres to home visits and reading clubs, these playful activities turn storytelling into an interactive, hands on experience that every child can access. At our Reading Club at the Valhalla Park Library, one young participant, Moegamat Ridha Wilson (9), stood out as he brought his story to life using the six bricks. With confidence and creativity, he built a sequence that reflected his imagination, eagerly sharing his ideas with others and inspiring his peers to do the same. “His enthusiasm reminds us how powerful it is when children are given the space and tools to express themselves,” said Western Cape Team Leader Nia Madlingozi. These sessions continue to create spaces where children explore stories through play, creativity, and connection. Sometimes, all it takes is six bricks to build a world of stories. #Nalibali #ECD #LEGOEducation #LiteracyThroughPlay #ReadingClub