Children in Limpopo will be treated to a series of exciting and free pop-up events this October, as national literacy NGO, Nal’ibali, in collaboration with Clowns Without Borders South Africa, take their libraries roadshow to the province. Between 21 and 25 October 2019, the partners will visit Limpopo with a series of free literacy-focused pop up performances that promote reading and encourages people of all ages to access their local libraries.

The free 40-minute comedy shows are designed to encourage families to explore their local libraries, model good book borrowing behaviour and to encourage people to sign up for library cards. In addition to the performances, Nal’ibali offers free training and resources to library staff interested in running community reading clubs. The public library events will be held as follows:

22 October, Mankweng Library, 15:00 – 15:45

23 October, Seshego Library, 15:00 – 15:45

25 October, Westenburg Library, 14.00 – 14.45

The Limpopo events will form the final leg in the roadshow, which has included 54 community activations in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Kwa-Zulu Natal since its launch in March this year.

“We’re incredibly proud of the roadshow’s success so far,” notes Nal’ibali Managing Director, Jade Jacobsohn. “We aimed to reach children, but also their broader community of caregivers through school- and family-focussed events. The results have been even better than we hoped and we’re sure Limpopo will be the cherry on the top.”

To date, the roadshow has visited 28 schools and 14 libraries. And, in addition to the performances with the clowns, Na’ibali has found other creative ways of engaging the broader community including distributing pamphlets about library use at taxi ranks and holding pop-up information stalls at shopping malls.

Suzan Eriksson, CWBSA Development Director, says the partnership’s success is no coincidence. “Children learn best when they’re engaged through play. Clowning is something unusual, it engages children’s curiosity and sense of fun. Nal’ibali worked with us to craft a message about the joy of reading and the fun that can be had in libraries…and the children are receiving it loud and clear!”

Nal'ibali’s Limpopo Provincial Support Coordinator, Khomotso Letsoalo, says: “We’re really looking forward to thrilling children in Limpopo with our surprises and shows this October. This initiative is a perfect example of how schools and libraries can join with arts and activist NGOs to put our country’s children first. Viva the reading revolution!”

Those not able to attend the upcoming events are still able to participate in Nal’ibali’s broader library drive – a national effort to get at least 120 000 new library members registered with a borrowing card at their local library. From 9 October till 29 November, children who sign up for free at their local library stand a chance to win one of 50 new bicycles donated by Nal’ibali. You can register at www.nalibali.org/library or watch out for registration drives throughout the country.

For more information about the Nal’ibali campaign, its libraries drive, or to access children’s stories in a range of SA languages, visit www.nalibali.org or find them on Facebook and Twitter: @nalibaliSA. Join the FUNda Sonke loyalty programme at www.nalibali.mobi and earn prizes!