The Nal'ibali Monitoring, Evaluation and Monitoring team recently spoke to beneficiaries of the Nal'ibali-VW Literacy Project. Below are testimonials from children, parents, story sparkers, early development practitioners, and principals who have benefitted from the project.
From hope to storytelling
My name is Learner 1*. Today, I will tell you a story about a queen who was tricked by someone. Once upon a time……………. The end!
My name means that we have hope, it came from the fact that I was born prematurely, and I was weak and kept in the incubator. I was told that they were even about to switch off the incubator and by a miracle I breathed. What helps me to be a good storyteller is the encouragement from my parents who told me that I would be something when I grow up and here, I am, I am something, I am a good reader, and I am a great storyteller. My teachers are playing a good role in teaching me how to read. There is Nal'ibali in my school. Nal'ibali is playing the role of encouraging me to read and they have taught me how to be a storyteller, there are even more storytellers and writers in my class that you should listen to, and because of Nal'ibali, those stories are going to be published.
By Learner 1
From Uncertainty to Confidence-My Journey as a Story Sparker
When I started as a Story Sparker, I didn’t know what was expected from us as Story Speakers until we were trained, that’s when I understood. You know what, now you can wake me up anytime, and I will be able to do my job without fear, for instance, I used to be scared to do activities in English but now I can do these activities anytime without any fear. I even wish that as Story Sparkers we could get a certificate of Excellence. It took a lot from us to do this work, when we started, a week felt like a month because we were not sure of what we were doing but now we do it so well. We are now facilitators. Yesterday we facilitated a training session on our own.
I was told by people before I started working for Nalibali that I could be a good storyteller. I didn’t understand what a storyteller was. I then started working for Nalibali and received training and even my Bio changed, it says “I am a storyteller” I even get bookings for storytelling. Now I can say with confidence that I am a storyteller.
By Nal'ibali-VW Literacy Project Story Sparker
The Nal'ibali-VW Literacy Project team launched Iingqondi zeQhagqiwa, a compilation of 23 texts (poems, letters, and short stories) and 15 illustrations by learners from seven primary schools in Kariega.
From Strictness to Connection, How Nalibali Transformed Our Family's Love for Reading
My name is Parent 3*, My child attends the Nal'ibali Programmes, and she is one of the authors of the book which was written last year titled Iingqondi zeQhagqiwa. I got encouraged to join Nal'ibali training because of my child, she told me about Nal'ibali, and I also realised that she suddenly loved reading and writing so I wanted to know more about Nal'ibali. While we sat together as a family, she often left us to sit alone in the bedroom, I wondered what was going on and I would assume that she was angry. I then noticed that while she was in her room, she would be reading or writing. She loves reading and writing a lot and it has opened her mind. I am a very strict parent but from the Nal'ibali training, I learned that as a parent, I need to have a close relationship with my children, children need us to be strict, but it has to be accompanied by friendship, and by so doing we will have a good relationship. She used to be a child that is full of fear, even when you spoke to her, she would be teary but now, we are very close, she is free with me and we talk about anything. Because of her love for reading and writing that she has learned from Nal'ibali, some kids come to our house for homework, reading, and writing activities. Ten kids came for those activities, and I gave them space in the house, but I told them that the number cannot be 10 at a time rather they should take turns in numbers of five and it is working, she is the one that leads the activities. Nal'ibali has taught me a lot and reading has become a part of us, even their father has joined, and everyone in the house is competing for reading. My mother-in-law passed away and she wrote about her and the loss.
By Parent 3
Championing Change, How Nalibali is Elevating Our School
My name is Principal 1*, Our school is one of those that are privileged to be in the VW project, and we love Nalibali, when some activities clash with Nalibali events, I prefer to cancel the programme for Nal'ibali, because it means a lot for me. Nal'ibali has become family, just wearing a Nal'ibali t-shirt and getting into a class, you will hear the excitement about Nal'ibali as they scream “Good morning Nal'ibali” I am in a group with other principals and I always share Nalibali activities that our children do with Nalibali, believe you me, all the principals wish they were part of the project. Our pass rate has improved, and our teachers do not struggle to teach because now they teach using the strategies taught by Nal'ibali, you know, as teachers when we receive training, it is more theoretical and now Nal'ibali has given our teachers the practical aspect, our teachers do not teach in the traditional ways that they knew. The DBE should adopt Nal'ibali and make it a compulsory activity in all schools, it is needed……….
By Principal 1
Nal'ibali-VW Literacy Project Coordinator Madoda Ndlakuse sharing words of encouragement with a learner during the Khazimla Storytelling Festival in Kariega recently.
Igniting a Love for Reading, How Nalibali Transformed My Classroom
My name is Educator 3*, and I teach in the foundation phase, when I joined Nal'ibali training had already been done but I met story Sparker Anonymous, she introduced herself and asked for my children, taking them to a class where all the Nal'ibali activities are conducted. Every time she took my children to that class, they came back with so much excitement and even their class participation would just change. I observed that several times and I got curious about what was happening in that class. I decided to join activities, and I understood why my children loved the Nal'ibali activities. I would sometimes invite the Story Sparker to come and conduct the activities in my class, she did that and she supported me all the way.., Look I love Nal'ibali books I prefer to even use Nal'ibali books than Vula Bula, I love the Nal'ibali stories, especially the supplement, the stories are fun and not too long. Teaching has been fun and my children can even tell stories and they love reading Nal'ibali stories. They remind me about reading time. If you have time, I can go with you to my class and I will ask one or two of my children to read. Nal'ibali is so helpful to us, I got so disappointed when Story Sparker anonymous left, I wish she could be brought back, but anyway so and so from Nal'ibali are always supportive.
By Educator 3
Nalibali Magic: Bringing Stories, Focus, and Joy to Our ECD Classroom
My name is ECD Practitioner 2*, I have been part of the Nal'ibali training, and I loved it, I learned a lot. I adopted the Nal'ibali energisers in my class because I love them. When it is a story session my children gather around me curious to hear the story. Even when we have visitors, we show them the Nalibali way of engaging with children, the concentration span of these children is very low but with the Nal'ibali activities, we have found a way of keeping them focused. I could not read a story for children the way I do now. The Nal'ibali team has so much energy and our children love them. We did not have books and Nal'ibali gave us, as you know we do not have money, and children pay less but at least now Nalibali has helped us. You guys should come here often we miss you, but we remember you every time we do the activities.
By ECD Practitioner 2