Each week, 36 000 supplements are distributed free of charge through Times Media Education direct to reading clubs, community organisations, libraries, schools and other partners in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.This is the sphere of impact, Nal’ibali has on reading in South Africa.
The company has other projects in partnership with Times Media,namely the Project for the Study of Alternative Education in SA (PRAESA) which produces bilingual newspaper supplements every 2 weeks, with stories, literacy activities, reading and reading club tips and support – to inspire and guide parents, caregivers, teachers, librarians and reading clubs to make reading and storytelling meaningful, enjoyable and accessible.
This September, Nal’ibali will take a further leap in reading for enjoyment with the national reading for enjoyment campaign which will be alongside their annual national storytelling contest, Story Bosso. With a special focus on folktales, Nal’ibali is using this opportunity to not only reawaken a love of storytelling – an important forerunner in children’s literacy development, but to preserve our national treasure of traditional stories through a series of community storytelling and entry events being held across the country and specially created sets of storytelling playing cards featuring common folktale characters.
Opening on Thursday 31 August, South Africa’s best loved storyteller, Gcina Mhlope, will be telling one of her favourite folktales to children in Soweto. Mhlope will be joined by comedian Marc Lottering who will be infusing the fun and demonstrating how to use the cards.
Communications Manager of Nali’bali Ben Rycroff said:
“To create a culture of reading, it’s crucial to shift mindsets and, consequently, behaviour. Once people have taken ownership of an idea or a concept, once they see it is an integral part of their world view and identity, behavior begins to change,and with our Story Bosso competition its no different we all grew up reading about folktales and we are encouraging people to use that same principal in developing their reading skills.We have also decided to add humor in to the frame to give our initiative a much more relaxed and comfortable feeling.”
