GROWING THE LOVE FOR STORIES & READING

Nal'ibali celebrates South Africa's cultural diversity, languages and heritage this Heritage Day!! Stories, especially those told in the mother tongue, are the basic building blocks of heritage. Children can learn about their identity, culture, language, heritage, history and customs through stories. Stories can also teach children about other cultures and make them more welcoming to the diversity that exists in our society. Nal'ibali has a library of stories that celebrate South Africa's cultural and linguistic diversity. This Heritage Day, share some of our stories about culture, heritage and customs on the Nal'ibali website. #HeritageDay #heritagemonth2025 #Literacy #AllLanguagesMatter #LiteracyMonth2025

WATCH: To honour National Literacy Month and the International Day of Sign Languages, Nal'ibali organised an educational exchange between learners from the Engedi Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Mitchell's Plain and pre-schoolers from The Dominican School for the Deaf. Students witnessed personally how their peers from various backgrounds communicated, learnt, and interacted with their educators. Watch the video to see how the event went. #InternationalDayofSignLanguages #signlanguage #LiteracyMonth #myheritageintranslation #MotherTongueMatters #AllLanguagesMatter

Happy International Day of Sign Languages!! Sign languages enable individuals with hearing impairments to express themselves, learn and connect with others. On this International Day of Sign Languages, Nal'ibali celebrates the rich linguistic heritage of all sign language communities! Recognised as one of 12 official languages in South Africa, South African Sign Language (SASL) is used by more 600 000 people in South Africa. Here are some interesting facts about SASL below. Source: Western Cape Government Cultural Affairs and Sport #InternationalDayofSignLanguages #signlanguage #LiteracyMonth #myheritageintranslation #MotherTongueMatters #AllLanguagesMatter

In the most innovative literacy initiative during National Literacy Month, Nal'ibali put together a meaningful educational exchange between two Cape Town ECDs. The event brought together students from the Engedi Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Mitchell's Plain and pre-schoolers from The Dominican School for the Deaf, fostering an environment of mutual understanding and learning. The event, which had more than 40 children, served multiple educational purposes. Students experienced firsthand how their peers from different backgrounds communicate, learn, and engage with their educators. The hearing children gained exposure to sign language, while the deaf students shared their unique methods of expression and learning. The day's activities centered around promoting literacy through interactive reading sessions, demonstrating that the love of stories transcends traditional language barriers. Following the educational activities, the children came together for a shared lunch period and recreational time. This social interaction proved invaluable, as it allowed the young participants to forge connections beyond their usual social circles and develop a deeper appreciation for different forms of communication. The success of this event showcases the importance of exposing children to diverse learning environments early in their educational journey. #LiteracyMonth #literacymonth2025 #africanstories #education #SASL #signlanguage #SouthAfricanSignLanguage