'You are fulfilling Mandela's dream'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - On Mandela Day and in appropriate celebration of its 21st birthday, the Heart-to-Heart Care Centre launched its Shine Literacy Centre at Imekhaya Primary School.

This initiative was started because of the alarmingly low literacy rates in South Africa.

According to statistics, 78% of Grade 4 children cannot read for meaning (PIRLS, 2016).

At the Shine Literacy Centre, volunteers are helping children in grades 2 and 3 strengthen their reading, writing and speaking skills. These volunteers support the same children each week and work with one or two children at a time, during school time.

At the launch of the project on Thursday, 18 July, the noticeably emotional principal of Imekhaya, Winnifred Gwe, thanked Heart-to-Heart for taking this initiative.

"Only a few of our learners come from well-to-do families. But our school is blessed, even though you cannot always see it. Thank you Heart-to-Heart for being so patient and generous towards us. Today, we see how you are not just helping our school, but the whole of Mossel Bay. You are helping the future leaders of this country. I am overjoyed, because on Mandela Day, you are fulfilling his dream."

The project is being made possible thanks to donations by Transnet National Ports Authority, Woolworths and individual sponsors.

Winnifred Gwe, principal of Imekhaya Primary School.