GROWING THE LOVE FOR STORIES & READING

At a vibrant clinic activation in the Bathurst area of the Ndlambe District, the SEF4 team partnered with dedicated health practitioners to bring storytelling into the heart of community care. Patients waiting for services, alongside nurses and clinic staff, joined in a creative and joyful activity: making their own books using Nal’ibali supplements. Laughter, imagination and meaningful conversations filled the space as stories became a bridge between health information and community connection. Through storytelling, important health messages were shared in ways that people could understand and relate to in their own languages. When stories are used to communicate care and knowledge, people feel safe to speak, ask questions and access the help they need. Moments like these remind us that literacy is more than reading and writing. It is about restoring human rights, affirming dignity, and ensuring that every voice is heard.

Day 2 at SEF4 kuBhanti! Our team highlighted a crucial point: engaging young men in literacy projects encourages more men to support literacy development, breaking the mold where women often bear the brunt of this work, especially in early childhood development centres, as noted by Dr. Nompucuko Zakaza, Eastern Cape Provincial Coordinator. When young men take an active role, it rewrites the narrative, reminding us that literacy is truly everyone’s responsibility. #SEF4 #MenInLiteracy #LiteracyForAll #ReadingCulture #Nalibali

In the vibrant township of Atteridgeville, also known as Phelindaba, in the west of Tshwane, something powerful is unfolding. Sithembiso Nhlapo, Gauteng Provincial Coordinator at Nal’ibali, recently led an inspiring tutor training session at The Hands Organisation, a community organisation dedicated to offering after-school programmes that support and uplift learners. In communities where access to books and reading support is often limited, tutors play a vital role. By equipping them with the skills, confidence and tools to spark curiosity through stories, we are helping children and young people discover the joy, power and possibilities that come with reading. This work is urgent because too many children are growing up without the opportunity to fall in love with books. Through initiatives like this, we are changing that story one tutor, one child and one book at a time. Training tutors to inspire a love of reading is how we make learning fashionable. Together with passionate community partners, we are proud to be part of this important movement. Video: The Hands Organisation. #Nalibali #ReadingForEnjoyment #LiteracyMatters #AfterSchoolProgrammes #Reading Literacy

Bontle Motatsa raised a critical question at the Perspective Series hosted by @dgmurraytrust on 25 March 2026: “Are children truly being listened to, or are they only symbolically included in the design of solutions that impact them the most?” As an 18-year-old youth activist and Children & Adolescents Representative for the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children, Bontle emphasised that children must be actively engaged, heard, and taken seriously in policy and programme decisions. The session was moderated by @_tamgram_ of the @dailymaverick. When children’s lived experiences are centred, policies and interventions become more responsive, effective, and sustainable. #ChildParticipation #YouthVoices #Children #Welfare #Development #Nalibali #DGMT #Shoprite #HoldMyHand #NSAAC