Literacy project launched

Mothers and their babies are the targets of Born to Read, a programme aimed at building a culture of reading from a young age.
TO encourage a culture of reading, the Gauteng department of sport, arts, culture and recreation has launched Born to Read, an initiative targeting pregnant women and new mothers.

Koekie Meyer, director of libraries and archives services in the provinceKoekie Meyer, director of libraries and archives services in the provinceThe purpose is to promote reading awareness by instilling a culture of reading among children at an early age. The programme encourages parents to take responsibility in teaching their children to read from the time they are born.

Koekie Meyer, Gauteng’s director of libraries and archives services, said: “Literacy is the gradual, on-going process of learning to understand and use language that begins at birth and continues through the early childhood years. During this period, children first learn to use oral forms of language and then begin to explore and make sense of written forms.”

At the launch on 30 November at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto, were departmental members, members of the Chris Hani Hospital Choir, new mothers, and children from nearby day care centres.

Mothers at the hospital will be given a Born to Read backpack containing children’s picture books and toy combinations, a bib, and a T-shirt. The department will then monitor the children who are part of Born to Read to determine to what extent reading from early age influences the children.

“It is said that a reading nation is a winning nation. South Africa currently finds itself in a serious struggle against illiteracy, which affects our economy and our chance to compete globally,” said Meyer. “On an individual level, illiteracy hampers the individual’s chances of finding and keeping sustainable jobs, leading to a downward spiral of poverty and deprivation.”

Keketso Semoko, the Isidingo actress, was the guest speaker. She said that when children were born they became used to a rhythm and by reading to them from birth they would ultimately get into the habit of reading themselves.

The department’s Elizabeth Mbatha added: “We envisage that the project will assist parents in raising children with healthy minds to become creative and active members of the society.”

Inculcating a culture of readingInculcating a culture of readingIt is also aimed at promoting the values of learning and information use, as well as supporting education, the standard of living and financial prosperity.

The first Born to Read Programme was launched in 2000 at the same hospital. It went on to win the Premier’s Award some years later, but was discontinued as a provincial programme. Many municipal library services, however, continued with the programme, especially in rural areas.

Libraries will also be introduced in hospitals. The department believes it important to have libraries in hospitals because sick children are left out of the educational loop. Getting books while in hospital will help improve their literacy and encourage a culture of reading.

Meyer explained that during their first years, babies heard speech as a series of distinct but meaningless words. By the age of one, most children began linking words to meaning. They understood the names used to label familiar objects, body parts, animals, and people.

“Reading and writing skills develop together. Children learn about writing by seeing how the print in their homes, classrooms, and communities provides information. They watch and learn as adults write – to make a list, correspond with a friend, or do a crossword puzzle. They also learn from doing their own writing,” she said.