Boost for Lupane education group
By Thandeka Matebesi
A Book Initiative dubbed ‘Give a Child a Book Initiative’ has donated reading material and stationery to a Lupane based education group, Catch Them Young to help them set up a community reading centre in their area.
The donation came following a plea for assistance by Catch Them Young for stationery to help school kids with study during the current national lockdown.
Give a child a book initiative Cordinator and Resource Liason, Nathi Masuku said the donation is in line with their mission of lending a helping hand to the less privileged in society.
“An assortment of books and other school accessories in form of novels, magazines, inspirational books, chalks, pencils, pencil sharpeners, ink pens, crayons and biographies was handed over to a grateful Catch Them Young representative, Thando Nyoni.
The material was sourced from The Book Initiative’s partners who upon hearing about the free lessons programme done by Catch Them Young at Lupane Ward 15 saw it prudent to gather donations for books and such material that can be of need.
“One of our partners, Kate Chambers (kpczim) was very instrumental in getting the material for Catch Them Young.At the Book Initiative it is always our mission to extend a hand to such community grown ideas that help impart knowledge to children in under developed and often neglected communities,” said Masuku.
Masuku added that the book initiative would be making more donations to Lupane.
“The Book Initiative and its partners have pledged to support Catch Them Young to see to it that the children in Lupane and other villages they operate in, get to read.More books and other education stationary is headed to Lupane soon.As Zimbabwe’s education curriculum widens to incorporate expanded learning and knowledge acquisition, we believe that exposure to books is a fundamental step in opening a child’s mind to the world,”said Masuku.
Masuku asserted that “The initiative is dedicated to the fundamental idea that books are key in the acquisition of knowledge for any society that cherishes successful livelihoods- bearing in mind that when you give someone a book, you are not only giving them pages bound up together, but you offer them a possibility of a new chapter in their lives. While the book donations have not been as big as we would have wanted, we remain inspired that the little there is, goes a long way in giving communities, in particular children an exposure to reading material”.
Catch Them Young representative Thando Nyoni said the donation was very welcome and would benefit a lot of children in the area.” We want to appreciate the help given to us by Give a Child a Book Initiative in the form of reading material and stationery. A lot of children will benefit from this donation,” he said.
