Two young women who are passionate about children and education have written a children’s book about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), featuring President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the characters.
Cory in the Universe was recently launched by The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), featuring President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the characters. Ntandoyenkosi Kunene, who won Miss SA in 2016 and Lecturer, Thokozane Dyosini are both qualified educators. They are on a mission to help children between the ages of nine and 15 to gain a better understanding of COVID-19, which has caused a lot of uncertainty and panic.
“While it’s challenging for adults to sift through information to stay informed, it’s even more difficult for children who have mixed feelings and are trying to understand what the world is facing. We saw a huge gap in the conversation around COVID-19. It was so adult-centred and no-one was focussing on how it was affecting children. They have lived through the pandemic, just like we have, and their lives have also changed. This was our inspiration to write the book,” said Kunene.
“The book is inclusive and diverse. We have characters from all walks of life as we wanted to portray the truly South African child in all of their forms,” added Dyosini. The two ladies met in varsity and have always wanted to write children’s books.“We want our children to grow up seeing a different picture,” says Kunene. “We want Cory in the Universe to be the first of many books that speak to children about social challenges,” said Dyosini.
The pair partnered with the DSAC to make reading and entertainment a reality in South Africa.“The book not only speaks to the heart of the children but also many social issues that plague society,” said Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa, who penned the book’s foreword.
