30m² prefabricated library
Date Launched
27 March 2023
Location
Acornhoek,
Mpumalanga
No of children
712 children
Year started
1990
Impact achieved
• Senianya Primary School, is located in Acornhoek, a semi-rural town situated in Mpumalanga province. It was established in 1990 and offers Grade R to 7 classes for 712 boys and girls.
• The children had been using a corner shelf in the Grade 5 classroom, which made it difficult for other classes to access. Having a dedicated library would offer equal access to all learners.
• The library was part-funded by Libraries for Literacy – a Canadian non-profit established by a teenager with South African roots, Colin Bloom and his family, especially his brother, James. It is the third time that the organisation has partnered with Breadline Africa to support literacy in South Africa, and along with Room to Read as literacy partner, it is an excited and long-awaited addition to the school’s amenities. The balance was funded by The Pollination Project, Bob Books, and Judith’s Reading Room.
• Colin Bloom was in South Africa and able to attend the launch event: “When I founded Libraries for Literacy, I never imaged that I would find such amazing and inspirational partners to work alongside or that I would be part of creating a library like this for over 700 students. Establishing this library is only half the journey, the second half is ensuring these books are read, so please don’t view these books as precious objects, the books are only valuable if they are borrowed read and returned and the process is then repeated by many students.”
• Catherine Ngwane, the Programme Director of Room to Read, added: “Thank you for being our partners on this journey – together we will make sure that this beautiful library is functional, and the children get an opportunity to use it. And to our guest of honour – the CEO of Libraries for Literacy – the person who made this day possible.”
• Sophy Maile, the school’s principal said: “Thank you for making my day, my year! I want to make a promise to Breadline Africa and to Room to Read that we will always make use of this library. Our learners will come every day and will use these books and sit in their new space. Thank you to Colin and James Bloom for giving us this library.”
