Schools and reading clubs were given the opportunity to win quality reading material in a variety of languages through a mini library competition run in the Nal'ibali reading-for-enjoyment supplements in 2012. After SMS'ing their details, the following winners were randomly selected from hundreds of entries received.

Nokukhanya Ndlovu, KZN

Nokukhanya Ndlovu, a local teacher at the Sandasonke Primary School in KwaZulu-Natal is dedicated to getting the children at her school passionate about reading. Struggling with a lack of resources, the school’s reading programme had been limited to black and white photocopies of books until recently. Now, having won the Nal’ibali mini library competition, Ndlovu is thrilled to be able to share a ‘library experience’ with her students.

Ndlovu, positive about the effects that reading can have, desperately wanted to inspire her learners to read. She comments: “None of our children have had a library experience before. We didn’t have an official library, only a shelf in the staff room, but, since having received the books from Nal’ibali, it’s been really encouraging to see our kids getting excited about reading!”

Reflecting on her own reading experiences she comments: “Reading has opened up new worlds for me. It improves your vocabulary, your confidence… and reading is everywhere! If you don’t read, it’s like you’re not breathing.  Reading frees your mind and makes you realise anything is achievable!”

Gail Hawes, Eastern Cape

Gail Hawes, a member of the Zama Reading Club in Port Elizabeth, is dedicated to getting the children in her community passionate about reading. However, with restricted resources, the reading club had been struggling with a limited number of books. Now, having recently won the Nal’ibali mini-library competition, Hawes is thrilled to be able to share ten boxes of new books with her reading club’s members.

Hawes, positive about the effects that reading for enjoyment can have, was entered into the competition secretly by her fellow Zama Reading Club volunteers. “It was such a shock! On the first day, when we had all the books ready, it was like Christmas! I wish I could have photographed the children’s faces when they realised that for the first time there were enough books for each child to read their own book,” says Hawes.

The Zama Reading Club believes strongly in the importance of reading books and getting children to read and listen to stories early in life. Hawes comments: “If you can inspire children to read and get enjoyment out of reading, it’s the greatest gift you can give. It opens them up a new journey in life and the younger they start the greater their reading experience will be.”

Reflecting on her own reading experiences she comments: “Reading has done so many great things for me. When you are able to read you are able to speak fluently and write correctly. You can learn so much from books!”

Fundisa Mbulawa, Eastern Cape

Fundisa Mbulawa, a volunteer at the Nalithemba Reading Club in the Tshatshu location near Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape, is dedicated to getting the children in her community passionate about reading. However, with restricted resources, the reading club had been struggling with a limited number of outdated books. Now, having recently won the Nal’ibali mini-library competition, Mbulawa is thrilled to be able to share ten boxes of new books with her reading club’s members.

Mbulawa, positive about the effects that reading can have and the response to reading clubs in her area, believes that reading starts at home: “As a parent, you should read because then it’s easy for children to see that reading is good. You should also encourage children to read to each other.”

Reflecting on her own reading experiences she comments: “Reading has done so many great things for me. When you are able to read you are able to speak fluently and write correctly. You can learn so much from books!”

Bongisa Nkuzo, Western Cape

Bongisa Nkuzo, a Samora Machel resident is passionate about getting the children and adults in her community reading. Understanding the enormous benefits of reading, Nkuzo has been running a reading club from the Weltevreden Library but has been struggling to provide enough new and interesting books for its members to read. However, this changed when she recently won the Nal’ibali mini-library competition.

Nkuzo is positive about the effects that reading and her book club have in the community and believes that with the help of the library and from other community residents, she can share these benefits and help uplift her community.

Reflecting on her own reading experiences she comments: “In primary school, reading opened me up to other worlds; it helped me to mature and learn new words.”  Nkuzo currently enjoys reading motivational books that help motivate her to do what she believes in – sharing her love of reading with others.