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GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Over a thousand visitors are in George attending the week-long National Funda Mzantsi reading championship that started on Monday 2 October.
The reading sessions are taking place at the George Civic Centre and the Conville Community Hall.
Funda Mzantsi started as a response to a survey conducted by the South African Book Development Council in 2007 on general reading habits in South African communities.
The survey revealed that South Africa is not a reading nation.
The Centre for the Book intervened and encouraged the establishment of book clubs in communities and schools.
The Department of Correctional Services concurrently started book clubs inside correctional facilities and encouraged offenders to improve their literacy and educational levels.
The Funda Mzantsi Reading Festival, a joint initiative between the Department of Correctional Services and the National Library of South Africa, aims to improve the reading habits of South Africans by instilling the love of reading, to improve book reviewing techniques and to cultivate the ability to publicly engage in a fruitful debate.
The competition takes the form of a book club reading competition in which more than 5 000 young people, including offenders from correctional facilities throughout the country, high school learners and independent book club members, compete nationally for prizes.
Prof Rocky Ralebipi-Simela said their goal is to have a book club at every public library in the country. Photo: Zolani Sinxo
Organising the festival is a complex exercise as 180 offenders from various correctional facilities who are participating in the reading sessions must be transported back and forth under strict security.
Encouraging results
Prof Rocky Ralebipi-Simela, the CEO of the National Library of SA, is pleased with the way the competition has grown and produced encouraging results over the years.
The core function of the National Library is to promote the culture of reading, writing and publishing, she told the George Herald. "At the first Funda Mzantsi eight years ago only three book clubs participated; today it has grown to 49 book clubs with thousands of participants in all eleven official languages across the country.
"This event has had many success stories since its inception. We would like to encourage people to continue with the culture of reading," she said.
Delekile Klaas, Western Cape regional commissioner, said the festival goes a long way in reinforcing the department's rehabilitation programmes, which instil a culture of reading and learning among South Africa's offender population.
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Klaas said, "Although the competition has been held in George for the last eight years it is not a foregone conclusion that George will always be the host. George will have to up its game and increase the number of role players involved in organising the competition. It is important that the private sector is involved."
The George Civic Centre is host to over a thousand visitors who listen to readings from books in all eleven official languages.
Photo: Myron Rabinowitz
Acting National Commissioner of Correctional Services James Smalberger said, "The department is steadfast on promoting a culture of reading and writing in our correctional centres. We encourage offenders to reflect on their experiences and to pen down their stories."
Read a previous article: Reading championship kicks off in George
ARTICLE: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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