Nal’ibali-Trevor Noah Foundation Literacy Project team returns to Gauteng primary schools

Written by Athenkosi Matyalana

Nelisiwe Tshabalala, a Nal’ibali-The Trevor Noah Foundation Literacy Project Story Sparker happily returned to Kliptown Primary School, Eldorado Park, Gauteng, earlier this month.

Nelisiwe describes returning to the schools as feeling like coming home after having been away for months. “From the time I walked onto the school grounds, pupils asked with wide eyes, “Are you returning forever?” Their questions gave her a sense of hope and responsibility. “They had clearly been waiting for this moment as long as I had,” she said.

Nelisiwe, who has been part Nal’ibali-TNF Literacy Project team since March 2025, conducts read-aloud sessions and provides reading resources while connecting storytelling to the curriculum themes for Grades R-3 at the school. She supports teachers and parents in fostering a reading culture at home and in schools and equips reading club leaders with the skills needed to expand their clubs.

“The most fulfilling part of my work is seeing improvement in the children who are part of the programme. Many of them have started volunteering to do read-alouds in front of their classmates. To see children move from being listeners to becoming confident readers and leaders is the heart of what this journey is about,”she said.

Nelisiwe’s goal is to  make sure that literacy is not only promoted but also placed within the reach of every child. “Every story shared is more than words on a page—it’s a step toward building confidence, sparking imagination, and creating a brighter future” she added.

Related: Gauteng Department of Education continues with their MOU with Nal’ibali