Seven schools in the Northern Cape celebrated National Book Week (5 to 11 September 2016) and International Literacy Day in collaboration with the Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en -monument (Afrikaans Language Museum and Monument) (ATM) from Paarl.

The ATM’s Laat ons Lees! (Let us Read!) project and Biblionef South Africa donated 200 books to each of the seven schools in De Aar, Philipstown, Petrusville and Vanderkloof. The schools are Keurtjiekloof, Petrusville, Visisani, Philipvale, Hayes, Emthanjeni and Kareeville primary schools. The ATM presented a programme about the importance of books, reading and museums at each school.

According to Janine Brown, educational officer at the ATM, the purpose of the project is to cultivate a reading culture, promote a love for books and create an environment where learners feel at home amongst books. The ATM has reached thousands of children since the project was launched in 2013.

The project is aimed at schools and communities in rural areas where there is a shortage of books and reading facilities. Longyuan Mulilo De Aar Wind Projects is another partner that donates mathematics and science books to schools. In Porterville, Wellington and Paarl the ATM supplies books to adults who read to groups of children once a week. The ATM invites the public, bookshops and publishers to donate books in aid of the reading project – any books in any language, new or secondhand.

Another project of the ATM is to record the oral history of local residents in the Emthanjeni and Renosterberg municipalities as part of a bigger project to promote and preserve the culture and heritage of the Northern Cape.

For more information, contact Janine Brown at 021 872 3441 or opvoeding@taalmuseum.co.za.