Why listening to stories is part of learning to read
In his insightful book, The Rights of the Reader, Daniel Pennac comments: “When someone reads aloud, they raise you to the level of the book. They give you reading as a gift.” People who love reading know the precise value of that gift, and how to access it. But there are those who cannot read, both children and adults. In days gone by, storytelling and,…
Greater Tygerberg Partnership and Nal’ibali transform a parking bay into a library for a day
On Friday, 18 September 2015, the Greater Tygerberg Partnership and Nal’ibali will transform an everyday parking bay into an outdoor library and reading space. As part of a broader international movement, led locally by Open Streets Cape Town, the library will be one of several transformations of parking bays across the city.
International Park(ing) Day is celebrated on 18 September each year to transform parking…
Story Bosso: Nal’ibali launches storytelling competition
This September, Nal’ibali is launching a nationwide storytelling competition to find South Africa’s first ‘Story Bosso’. Aimed at reawakening a love of storytelling and reading among South Africans of all ages, the competition will connect the public to ideas and inspiration on how to tell stories and read aloud to others; showcase a range of local stories (in all South African languages), as well…
Helping blind and visually impaired children discover story worlds
Omphile is a 13-year-old Grade 7 learner at Prinshof School for blind and visually imapired children. She has congenital glaucoma and therefore has limited eyesight. Omphile has always enjoyed reading – perhaps because everyone else in her family reads – and would like to encourage adults and older caregivers to help other blind or visually imapired children experience the joy she has found in…
The dangers of the single story
Catherine Kell, Associate Professor of Linguistics specialising in literary studies at the University of the Western Cape, speaks to us about the danger of the single story and necessity of different narratives:
A group of lees-mammies (reading-mommies) talked to me about story-telling in their lives when they were young children growing up on wine farms in the Western Cape where their parents worked as labourers….
Nal’ibali research: A glimpse into child’s play
Nal’ibali’s Storyplay Co-ordinator, Nadia Lubowski, travelled to KwaZulu-Natal to train and support ECD practitioners in their implementation of the Storyplay approach. In this piece, she relays her personal and professional experience in helping spread the power of stories:
We had been driving since 7am, we had visited six early childhood development (ECD) sites by mid-afternoon. My thoughts were meandering between endless questions and absorbing and experiencing…
Women’s month: Literacy superwomen
This Women’s Day we salute local librarians, teachers and literacy activists for being inspiring change-makers in their community.
The literacy librarian: Edith Khuzwayo
Edith Fezeka Khuzwayo, the Managing Librarian at the Murray Park Library in the City of Johannesburg, is one of those community members who should be celebrated not just on Women’s Day but every day of the year. In addition to managing the day-to-day running…
Women’s month: Literacy superwomen
This Women’s Day we salute local librarians, teachers and literacy activists for being inspiring change-makers in their community.
The literacy librarian: Edith Khuzwayo
Edith Fezeka Khuzwayo, the Managing Librarian at the Murray Park Library under the City Of Johannesburg, is one of those community members who should be celebrated not just on Women’s Day, but every day of the year. In addition to managing the day-to-day running…
The healing power of stories
Reading and telling stories are important activities that encourage children to develop their imaginations, excellent memories and increase their vocabularies. As part of our broader ‘Story Power’ campaign, we embarked on a two-day programme of ‘Healing through Stories’ workshops designed to use stories – written, told and read – to help children to make sense of their hardships, in a fun environment where play…
Nal’ibali Trainer Malusi Ntoyapi named a ‘Top 200 Young South African’
Nal’ibali’s early literacy trainer and programmes support officer is one of Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans for 2015! Take a look at Malusi’s profile, his achievements and his passion for literacy and social change:
Malusi Ntoyapi works at Praesa (the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in South Africa) on the Nal’ibali reading for enjoyment campaign as an early literacy trainer and programmes…
