We’ve had a wonderful few months getting our projects up and running!
The library at Ekurhuleni Centre for Orphans and Vulnerable Children is starting to take shape. The first boxes of books arrived from Gauteng during the last few months, about 500 books in total, and then the beautiful new shelves made by Rodney, Vanessa and their carpentry team at Splinters in Hoedspruit. Room to Read also very generously donated some beautiful shelves and furniture to the Centre, which has filled up the empty rooms perfectly!
The children were so excited to receive the books they INSISTED on being photographed with them!
Our library team gathered on 14th September 2013 for an excellent training session in basic librarianship run by Julia Theko of Room to Read: Khensani Malubana, Program Manager at the Centre and her team of carers Lillian Marule and Qolani Masilane; Judith from the Centre’s board and Lydia Ngomane, Zingela Ulwazi volunteer who lives near the Centre. Skills in hand, we are now processing the many books that have so far been donated, which is a lot of work – entering them into an accession register, pasting book pockets and date slips into them, and then categorising each book. This is a particularly pleasant time to spend with each other, as we chat about the books and catch up on what’s happening in our lives. When we are in the flow, it moves so smoothly!
Lillian & Lydia processing donated books
There are many books to get through so we are on the lookout for volunteers to assist us – if you’re in our area and would like to spend a few hours helping us create our precious library, and meet some lovely adults and adorable children, please do contact me – stella@zingelaulwazi.org.za
Our champion book collector, Gloria Horgan (my amazing mum!), 83, who lives in Gauteng, has now collected over 400 books for the Centre’s library! She has done this with such gusto and innovation and we are all so grateful to her for her love and dedication to the children and community of Acornhoek. Many thanks to the Hospice Shop, Irene Homes and Gloria’s friends at GEM Retirement Village for supporting our project.
Gloria Horgan
Another wonderful donation arrived this week from the Centre for the Book, an arm of the National Library of South Africa. How very exciting to receive 160 children’s books in English and Xitsonga!
And while this is all going on, board member Dephne, Jennifer (a teacher at Lumukisa Primary) and I are exploring all the possibilities for our plan for a community library in Acornhoek. We’re looking for a space or a suitable building that will work well. Acornhoek’s make-up is about to change dramatically with the first mega-mall being erected. An excellent community library would certainly be a very good accompaniment to this shopping shrine – the potential partners we’re in conversation with will enable us to create an Open Learning Centre to be proud of.
Lastly, a library is bubbling up in Tzaneen … watch this space for our progress!
Be well, be happy
Stella
