Family Literacy: The Glue That Binds Us
When I was growing up in the late 1980s and early 1990s, life was starkly different from what it is today. In the townships, households with electricity and a television set were a rarity; a luxury only enjoyed by a privileged few. Further, community libraries and books in homes were practically unheard of. For many, radio was the only medium of news and entertainment…
Nal’ibali Increases Access to SA Children’s Stories
“Zinhle loved skipping in the playground with her friends Sindi and Zongi. Just one thing worried her…” This is how the story Hair Magic by Mbali Kgame begins and is just one of hundreds of stories that the Nal’ibali team has published in different official South African languages over the past eight years.
Now, in a bid to provide more low-cost access to free and…
Nal’ibali Appoints New CEO, Yandiswa Xhakaza
Xhakaza is an avid educationalist and has committed her life to solving complex social problems. She believes education is one of the most powerful ways through which people can be uplifted from poverty. Having recently completed her MBA from the University of Pretoria’s business school, Gordon Institute of Business Science, Xhakaza is excited to use business principles to solve social problems.
She joins Nal’ibali –…
Locking in With Stories
During the lockdown period of the COVID19, many South African parents and caregivers have been left feeling worried and confused. The nationally imposed lockdown means that individuals are required to stay at home for their own and others’ safety. For both children and adults, it is normal to experience a range of emotions about it – fear, anxiety, loneliness, boredom, sadness, and even anger….
Nal’ibali Offers Free Support Package to Help Keep Children Reading
With schools and preschools closed, and families spending more time at home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, many caregivers will be wondering what they can do to keep their children occupied, entertained and learning. To help them, Nal’ibali – the national reading-for-enjoyment campaign – has put together a free support package with story and activity guides, audio and written stories and…
Fundza Launches WhatsApp Writing Challenge
It was Human Rights day on Saturday 21 March, and what better way for young people to commemorate it in these difficult times when they are stuck at home than to enter an online writing challenge launched by FunDza Literacy Trust? FunDza is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to growing a culture of reading for pleasure and writing for meaning among South Africa’s youth. FunDza’s…
Important COVID-19 Announcement
Due to the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa, Nal’ibali has cancelled all planned events, reading clubs, school visits and training sessions until schools and educares reopen.
We urge you to take the same precautions and temporarily stop your reading club activities until they are safe to resume!
Why is Nal’ibali taking these measures?
Our government has closed all South African schools and preschools until 14…
Nal’ibali to Push for Free Access to Public Libraries in a Quest to Improve Reading in South Africa
As the new year starts, much of South Africa’s focus has been on education, with matric results being announced and scores of children starting grade 1. However, given the state of the education system in South Africa, one might ask what determines success for children who start school and then stay in school until passing their matric certificate 12 years later? The ability to…
Urgent Call on Mobile Network Operators to Zero-Rate the Mobile Services of Public Benefit Organisations to Allow Early Learning and Education to Continue – Image courtesy of Joburg Libraries
The DG Murray Trust calls on mobile network operators to urgently zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations (PBOs) that provide digital content for early learning and education. In this way, preschool and schooling will be able to continue to some extent, reaching children on cellphones in their own homes. This is crucial, given the closure of early childhood development centres and schools.
Image courtesy…
Close to 3 Million Children Reached this World Read Aloud Day
This year Nal’ibali, South Africa’s reading-for-enjoyment campaign, set a target to read aloud to 2 million children on World Read Aloud Day, Wednesday 5 February. Issuing a special story in all 11 official languages and calling on the support of South Africans everywhere, the campaign has announced that close to 3 million children were read to.
World Read Aloud Day is a global event to…