Updates from Our Urban and Rural Library Programme
Since November 2022, the Light from Africa Foundation’s Library Programme has reached 1,790 youth and 75 adults—across schools in both rural and urban communities of the Western Cape. This equates to a total of 9,539 quarterly youth engagements for the reporting period.
Behind this number are thousands of children who now have access to safe, welcoming spaces where they can read, learn, and dream. For many, it has been their very first encounter with a library book—an experience that can spark a lifelong love of reading. Thanks to the generosity of donors and partners, our libraries have become thriving centres of curiosity and growth.
Urban Libraries: Community in Action
At St Theresa’s Primary School in Athlone, more than 600 learners engage regularly with the school library. As one school leader shared during its opening: “Your generosity has not only facilitated the creation of a tangible resource but has also ignited a beacon of hope and opportunity for the learners at St. Theresa’s Primary School.”
Today, the library is woven into daily learning. Video clips from the school show learners reading quietly in corners, gathering to share stories, and embracing the library as a hub of literacy and imagination.
At Heathfield Primary School, learners recently turned their love for reading into action. During a school-led book drive, pupils donated books from their own collections to the library—demonstrating the power of community in building sustainable literacy resources. These moments remind us that libraries are about more than shelves of books; they are about fostering generosity, ownership, and shared growth.
Rural Libraries: Thriving Against the Odds
In rural schools such as Suurbraak Primary and Mullersrus Primary, the impact is equally powerful. For many learners, “having a library book in their homes is an entirely new experience— a remarkable step toward broadening their horizons and nurturing a lifelong passion for reading.”
These libraries often provide the only dedicated reading spaces available in their communities. Photos from the schools capture the joy of children paging through their favourite stories—proof that access to books builds not only literacy, but also confidence, curiosity, and academic success.
Why These Libraries Matter
South Africa continues to face a literacy crisis: 8 out of 10 children cannot read for meaning by the age of 10. Without access to books and supportive environments, these learners face lifelong disadvantages in education and opportunity.
Our Library Programme was created to respond directly to this challenge—establishing welcoming, resource-rich spaces where children can build essential reading and writing skills. Over the years, we’ve seen how libraries transform schools, ignite imaginations, and improve learning outcomes.
Growing Together
Reaching more than 1,700 people has only been possible because of the long-term commitment of donors, schools, and communities who believe in the power of books to change lives.
But the work is far from done. To keep our libraries thriving, we need ongoing investment to stock shelves with age-appropriate, engaging books and to sustain the programme in the years ahead. Every contribution—whether financial, in-kind, or through book donations—helps us ensure that no child is left behind when it comes to literacy.
We invite you to be part of this journey. Help us keep the pages turning and the dreams alive by supporting our Library Programme today.
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