In celebration of National Book Week (5-11 September 2024) and International Literacy Day (8 September 2024), READ to RISE and GrandWest staff visited Pinedene Primary School in Parow, Cape Town on 6 September 2024. The Grade R – 3 learners were treated to the OAKY the Happy Tree Puppet Show and all 640 learners received a brand new OAKY book to take home.
The Puppet Show is based on the book OAKY the Happy Tree. The OAKY Series is written by READ to RISE Co-Founder and South African award-winning poet Athol Williams and illustrated by Taryn Lock. Each story has a positive life lesson – OAKY the Happy Tree teaches us about the secret to happiness.
The recent PIRLS report revealed 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa are functionally literate (down from 78% in 2019). Sadly 43% of households in South Africa have zero access to books.
“Being able to read is so important. If children love to read, they will excel at school and go onto become good constructive members of society. It all starts with reading.” says READ to RISE Executive Director, Taryn Lock.
READ to RISE is a non-profit organisation that promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities in South Africa. The organisation hopes to inspire children to read through its classroom programmes and also giving each learner access to books. To date, the organisation have visited over 7,500 classes to conduct their programme and given out over 350,000 new books. This September, READ to RISE celebrates its 11th Birthday. The organisation has launched its 9th Class Programme with its latest OAKY book – OAKY Hears a Song and will host the Cape Flats Book Festival on 1-2 February 2025.
‘We are extremely grateful to our sponsors who enable us to inspire more children to read – together we hope to create a nation of inspired readers.’ – Taryn Lock, Co-Founder and Executive Director.
READ to RISE operates in Cape Town and Johannesburg and relies on funding from individuals, trusts and corporates and hopes to continue inspiring children to read. For only R50 per learner you can give the gift of reading. If you are able to assist with sponsorship or partner with READ to RISE, please visit www.readtorise.org or email info@readtorise.co.za
