Nal’ibali partnered to transform Thathani Primary School before continuing Mandela Day through its Step Into Change literacy campaign, reaching children across Soweto through storytelling, reading activities.
Nal’ibali’s Mandela Day activities spanned two days, combining partnerships and community-led initiatives to promote literacy, inspire young readers and strengthen communities across Soweto.
On Friday, Nal’ibali joined the Adopt-a-School Foundation’s Back to School for Mandela Day campaign at Thathani Primary School in Zola, Soweto. Working alongside hundreds of volunteers and partner organisations, the organisation facilitated interactive storytelling and literacy sessions while supporting a broader school transformation that included refurbished classrooms, coding and robotics activities, library support and learner wellbeing initiatives.
The campaign brought together 267 volunteers from 18 partner organisations, revitalised 13 classrooms, donated 600 books and benefited 535 learners through a combined investment of R1.3 million.
On Saturday, Nal’ibali continued its Mandela Day celebrations through its Step Into Change event in Orlando West, Soweto. The community initiative combined storytelling, literacy activities, school and running shoe donations, youth empowerment sessions and community upliftment, encouraging families and volunteers to make a difference through the power of reading.
Held under the theme “Every Step Creates Change,” the event reinforced Nal’ibali’s belief that literacy opens doors to opportunity and that every child deserves access to books, stories and supportive learning environments.
By combining large-scale partnerships with grassroots community programmes, Nal’ibali continues to use literacy as a catalyst for social impact, helping children build the confidence, imagination and skills needed to shape brighter futures.
