Libraries at Matlaba Primary School and Mokakana Primary School in the Bodibe village in the North West Province and Modilati Secondary School in Hammanskraal, Gauteng, will have their libraries furnished with books from some of the country’s greatest leaders.

Captains of various industries, the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga and MEC for Education in the Free State, Tate Makgoe – attended Adopt-a-School Foundation’s ninth Back to School Party on Saturday, 12 September 2015. This annual party is hosted by Adopt-a-School Foundation chairperson and deputy president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. It is geared at raising awareness for the Foundation’s work in disadvantaged schools around South Africa.

Each year, in addition to the funds raised through individual and corporate pledges, guests bring books to donate to school libraries. Thousands of books have been donated over the past nine years from the Back to School Parties. This year, the Foundation will distribute over 700 books to schools in the North West and Gauteng provinces in support of National Literacy Month. 

Celebrated in September across the world, this month is dedicated to the promotion of reading as an essential part of the development of children. The Department of Arts and Culture and the Department of Basic Education declared Monday, 7 September to Sunday, 13 September 2015 National Book Week in South Africa as part of this important campaign. 

In its continued commitment to driving literacy around schools in South Africa, Adopt-a-School has distributed 20 000 dictionaries this year with Oxford University Press. Since 2001, Adopt-a-School has built and fully resourced 16 libraries and trained over 100 parents and teachers to be librarians. Learners have been empowered with greater knowledge on the importance of reading. 

The Foundation strives to address the inequalities and inadequacies in our rural and disadvantaged schools, in order to ensure positive learning experiences which will lead to greater opportunities for South Africa’s youth. Over the last 13 years Adopt-a-School has inspired both businesses and individuals in the private sector to invest effectively in education in South Africa. 

For more information on Adopt-a-School Foundation, visit www.adoptaschool.org.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.