GEORGE NEWS - A group of women from Thembalethu gathered at the George Herald office on Saturday 16 September to learn from one of the best in the field of education how to instil a love of reading in young children.
Werna Pretorius, a foundation phase education specialist, has a lifetime experience of training teachers how to educate their young learners in the best possible way, while also instilling a love of reading in their young charges - a gift they will treasure forever.
George Herald was fortunate enough that the paper's new 'reading for pleasure' campaign - Ordinary Magic for Madiba - attracted Pretorius's attention prompting her to contact Editor-at-large Ilse Schoonraad.
Her expertise was exactly what was needed and Schoonraad immediately embraced her offer of help with open arms.
The first reading centre is almost complete and the reading sessions at the Uniting Reformed Church in Thembalethu will initially take place once a week and hopefully increase in frequency as the support structure grows. Curtains, cushions, mats and soft toys have been donated and Elna Schwartz of Avis Van Rental in George has also offered to get involved saying the company will help with the weekly meals as well as reading.
More companies are needed to provide meals e.g. a fruit, a sandwich and a juice once a week for about thirty children. This need not be hard work or an effort as the food can be collected and the older kids will put the lunch boxes together. It could be as simple as donating five loaves of bread, some cold meats, margarine, apples and juice.
Hungry children will never fully discover the joys hidden in the pages of a book.
English and Afrikaans books have been donated, but Xhosa children's books are still needed for this particular centre.
The programme will also be rolled out to Afrikaans and English speakers in other areas.
For more information and to get involved or to make donations, contact Ilse Schoonraad at ilse@groupeditors.co.za or 044 874 2424/ 082 724 0402 or Lorraine Verhagen at lverhagen@groupeditors.co.za or 044 874 2424.
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
