For the past four years, Pam Golding Properties Franschhoek has supported the Franschhoek Literary Festival (FLF) and its School Reading Programme, helping to promote literacy and a love of reading among primary school learners in the Franschhoek Valley.
This year, that support was extended through a R25 000 donation from the Pam Golding Heart of Gold Trust to the School Reading Programme. The donation was marked with a cheque handover on September 17, when 48 Grade 5 to 7 learners from four participating schools enjoyed a morning of reading-related activities.
Access to books remains a significant barrier to literacy development in many communities, and the FLF School Reading Programme is helping to address this challenge.
Established around 17 years ago, the programme works to provide books and well-supported libraries to under-resourced primary schools in the Franschhoek Valley, with a goal of collecting and distributing 27 500 books.
The programme encourages learners to use their school libraries and make reading part of their everyday school experience. Through activities centred on words, stories and books, children are encouraged to develop a love of reading while nurturing their creativity and imagination.
“This project aligns with the mission of the Pam Golding Heart of Gold Trust, which is to invest in the lives of talented young people who do not have adequate financial resources. Supporting the FLF helps these under-resourced schools provide educational opportunities that enable their pupils to develop their talents to their full potential,” says Surina du Toit, Pam Golding Properties area manager for Franschhoek, Paarl, Wellington, Worcester and Paarl luxury estates.
Four schools currently participate in the programme – Dalubuhle Primary, Groenendal Primary, Wemmershoek Primary and Wes-Eind Primary – with the FLF hoping to extend the initiative to other schools as funding allows.
The School Reading Programme is jointly managed by Candice Kerchhoff and FLF School Library Manager Margie Cunnama, who was also a co-founder of the programme.
Kerchhoff says the September celebration was particularly meaningful for learners who had demonstrated enthusiasm and improvement in their reading during the year.
“This is a special treat for the kids who have shown enthusiasm and improvement in their reading this year. We are hoping it will encourage others at Dalubuhle to get involved, as learner participation is quite low at the school.
“We are truly grateful for the support from Pam Golding Properties, Surina, Annien and the rest of the team.”
Kerchhoff says another important aspect of the School Reading Programme is raising awareness of its outreach work and the ongoing funding needed to continually improve the four school libraries it supports.
Du Toit says the impact extends far beyond simply putting books into children’s hands.
“Giving children the opportunity to read is about so much more than books. It gives them the opportunity to grow, discover what they are capable of and believe in a better future. That’s something we can all be a part of.”
Text & Image: Supplied
