Novus Holdings donate mobile libraries to BGCSA of Alexandra
ALEXANDRA – Novus Holdings has donated two mobile libraries which can be wheeled from one classroom to another, making them easily accessible to all the children at the Club.
Novus Holdings donated two mobile libraries to the Boys & Girls Club of Alexandra on the internationally observed Day of Education.
CEO of the New Africa Education Foundation (NAEF), Ahmed Motala coordinated the donation of the mobile libraries.
The mobile libraries can be wheeled from one classroom to another, making them easily accessible to all the children at the club. Novus Holdings group executive, Peter Metcalfe, said donating libraries would help bridge the gap between illiteracy and unemployment in the country.
“It is vital for kids to master reading for pleasure in order to stay on track and in school. It also helps spark imagination, which in turn helps the kids to discover new words and ideas.
“We hope that these stunning mobile libraries will have a long-term, positive impact on the 400 children at the Boys & Girls Club of Alexandra,” said Metcalfe.
Recent research has suggested that 78 per cent of South African children in Grade 4 cannot read, while South Africa has the highest rate of youth unemployment in the world at 52.8 per cent.
The executive director of BGCSA Laura Parker said their main focus was to make sure learners did not drop out of school before they reached Grade 12.
“We help prevent kids from dropping out by keeping them engaged in school throughout their school going years, with daily tutoring and academic support, and by ensuring they are on track to graduate year after year.
“This is why at all of our clubs we have books, book clubs, and reading programmes which we make part of the everyday schedule,” said Parker.
Parker added that the support that the learners received would lead to academic success.
