The Book Flood Campaign

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has initiated the Book Flood Campaign whereby all provinces are expected to organise their own related events in order to collect books from all stakeholders for learners that do not have access to libraries. We have a look at KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape’s campaigns.

In its endeavour to turn South Africa into a reading nation, Hargraves Library Services together with SA Booksellers have donated books to the value of more than R200 000 to the Book Flood Campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. The company believes that reading is the “aorta that pumps literacy to every organ in society which will ensure a healthier economy devoid of any malady that will affect growth and independence”.

The Deputy President, the Honourable Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, at the Youth Engagement meeting at the Harare Library in Khayelitsha on 11 February 2015 said, “For an individual, reading opens up new worlds, reveals new ideas and suggest new opportunities. For a nation, reading is a gateway to a different, better future. A winning nation actively promotes reading.” He further stated that, “Reading books is not an enjoyable pasttime. It is an integral part of our struggle to be a free and prosperous nation.”

In KZN, this campaign was implemented in collaboration with the SA Booksellers Association and the Liberty Midlands Mall. The aim is to increase the availability of story books in public schools by encouraging members of the public and private sectors to participate by donating books and other relevant library materials. According to the National Education Infrastructure Management Systems’ (NEIMS) report of 2014, only 25% of schools in KZN have libraries. This refers to “the access learners have to a building or room on the property that houses books”.
The KZN Education Department envisaged that the Book Flood Campaign will enable it to meet the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) standards which state that each child should be exposed to at least 10 books to develop and sustain the culture of reading. The department also realises that it needs partners to achieve this somewhat daunting task. It believes that by improving the literacy levels of the learners, it will be creating a well-rounded community that have strong literacy and numeracy skills that lay the foundation for all learners to succeed in school and in life.

The Director of the Education Information and Technology Services (ELITS), Mrs Khanye Dubazana, indicated that 10 other malls in the province had pledged their support to participate in the initiative. She also stated that, “Our intention is to promote a culture of reading among learners across the country and build a nation of readers. Research shows that there is not enough access for learners to books especially in the rural areas. This is what we are trying to improve on. This in turn will increase the overall annual assessment percentages.”

The theme used in the Campaign was – One good book, many bright learners. The official launch of the KZN initiative took place on 20 March 2015 at the Alexandra High School in Pietermaritzburg. The launch, made possible with the help of the school’s principal, Mr. Andrew Graaf, was a huge success. It was during that launch that Hargraves Library Service made its pledge.

Slangspruit Primary School and Ingqwangele High School were identified as the two schools in Pietermaritzburg to benefit from the Book Flood Campaign.
In an exciting traditional song and dance atmosphere, the handover of library books took place at Ingqwangele High School on 29 April 2015. All donors were presented with an attractive framed certificate signed by the MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, the
Honourable Mrs Peggy Nkonyeni. The school’s library was adequately stocked with new, relevant materials.

During the month leading up to the handover, Gcina Mhlophe, world-renowned author known for her storytelling, was at the Midlands Liberty Mall on 8 April 2015 to share a story from her latest book, Zimnandi Ngokuphindwa. Her presence was possible through the courtesy of Exclusive Books at the Mall and the UKZN Press.

The future that faces all South Africans is challenging and exciting. It is the belief of the SA Booksellers Association that ELITS with its Director Khanye Dubazana and her management team will meet these challenges and will grow from strength to strength in the fulfilment of its aspirations and progressive programmes, and more particularly, in the high principles that it is known to espouse.

Apart from the magnanimous gesture of Hargraves Library Service, many other booksellers made significant contributions. These were Exclusive Books at the Liberty Midlands Mall (R50 000 worth of books), Bookworld, Adams Bookshop, Cum Books and Bargain Books.

In order to increase the readership base one has to have the vision which features the principles of Ubuntu and Batho Pele, a vision that the former President, the late Nelson Mandela shared with the nation when he said, “It’s through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor and the son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine … it is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” The SA Booksellers Association received a certificate of appreciation from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education signed by MEC, Honourable Peggy Nkonyeni for the work done and donation of collection boxes for this campaign.

The Western Cape launched their Book Flood campaign on World Book and Copyright day in Vredendal in partnership with the Maskam Shopping Centre. Flyers were distributed by the
Matzikama Municipality to encourage residents to read, give and share by paying it forward through dropping a book into the box at the mall and to help educate our children. All books donated will be given to local schools within the Matzikama municipal area.

In the lead up to the launch, meaningful partnerships were forged as the WCED’s Education Library and Information Services (EDULIS) component used this Book Donation Campaign as an opportunity to bring together corporate partners, government and local business and involve them in the initiative.
Leaders from the area, including the mayor, the municipal manager, mall management, principals, local business people and the media cooperated to make the campaign successful.

“Come Read With Me” – the World Book Day theme – set the scene for the launch. Enthusiastic learners representing nine local schools lined the passageway of the mall holding banners reflecting the theme. Some learners displayed self-made book covers of their favourite books. Learners had the opportunity to read extracts from a variety of books: from recipe books to poetry and even dictionaries. These were interspersed with speeches by the Mayor, Mr Patrick Bock, the Education District Circuit Team Manager, Marshall Johnson and Anna Brown, a representative of the Department of Basic Education. Mrs. Brown highlighted the need to improve numeracy and literacy amongst school children and the urgency to promote reading in our schools and develop reading skills.

The mayor outlined the problems being experienced with very low literacy levels amongst previously disadvantaged learners in the Matzikama area. He explained how this goes hand in hand with a high drop out rate amongst the learners resulting in has a serious negative impact on their future.
He further expressed his support for and satisfaction with the idea of the Book Flood Campaign particularly because it would benefit the children of the farm workers and other disadvantaged children in the Matzikama area. These children do not have easy access to libraries and bookshops or reading material. Mayor Bock stressed that initiatives such as this campaign is exactly what is needed in the Matzikama area. He encouraged the learners to take control of their future through reading.

After the launch ceremony, each learner had the opportunity to visit the Western Cape Education Department’s Mobile Library, affectionately known as “Kilo 5” was parked outside the Mall. Learners could choose their own book to take home and keep, making it a pleasantly memorable World Book Day for them. Since the launch of the Western Cape National Book Flood Campaign on World Book Day, over 10 000 books have been donated by publishers, booksellers and individuals.