Mobile library brings hope to Kid Maponya Primary School learners

KID Maponya Primary School in Kagiso, west of Johannesburg, celebrated the handover of a brand-new mobile library for foundation-phase learners, a beacon of hope designed to inspire a love of reading and support young learners in developing vital literacy skills.

- MASABATA MKWANANZI [e-mail]

The initiative aims to bridge South Africa's growing literacy gap by making books more accessible and fostering a strong reading culture within the school and surrounding community.

By bringing stories directly to the children, the school hopes to transform reading from a classroom task into a daily habit that fuels curiosity and confidence.

Deputy principal Botshinyane Marumo expressed deep gratitude for the donation, saying it comes at a crucial time for families in the area.

"We are very humbled by this handover," said Marumo.

"Many of our learners come from households that cannot afford books. This library gives them an opportunity to dream, to learn, and to imagine a bigger world."

Marumo shared that the school once had a library, but it became nonfunctional due to a lack of books.

"With this new mobile library, we now have enough material to make reading fun and engaging again.

"We've already selected two teachers who will work closely with the learners to help improve their reading skills," she added.