Celebrating International Literacy Day

In celebration of National Book Week (5-11 September 2024) and International Literacy Day (8 September 2024), READ to RISE and GrandWest staff visited Pinedene Primary School in Parow, Cape Town on 6 September 2024. The Grade R – 3 learners were treated to the OAKY the Happy Tree Puppet Show and all 640 learners received a brand new OAKY book to take home.

The Puppet Show is based on the book OAKY the Happy Tree. The OAKY Series is written by READ to RISE Co-Founder and South African award-winning poet Athol Williams and illustrated by Taryn Lock. Each story has a positive life lesson - OAKY the Happy Tree teaches us about the secret to happiness. 

The recent PIRLS report revealed 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa are functionally literate (down from 78% in 2019). Sadly 43% of households in South Africa have zero access to books.

“Being able to read is so important. If children love to read, they will excel at school and go onto become good constructive members of society. It all starts with reading.” says READ to RISE Executive Director, Taryn Lock.

READ to RISE is a non-profit organisation that promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities in South Africa. The organisation hopes to inspire children to read through its classroom programmes and also giving each learner access to books. To date, the organisation have visited over 7,500 classes to conduct their programme and given out over 350,000 new books.  This September, READ to RISE celebrates its 11th Birthday. The organisation has launched its 9th Class Programme with its latest OAKY book – OAKY Hears a Song and will host the Cape Flats Book Festival on 1-2 February 2025.

‘We are extremely grateful to our sponsors who enable us to inspire more children to read – together we hope to create a nation of inspired readers.’ – Taryn Lock, Co-Founder and Executive Director.

READ to RISE operates in Cape Town and Johannesburg and relies on funding from individuals, trusts and corporates and hopes to continue inspiring children to read. For only R50 per learner you can give the gift of reading. If you are able to assist with sponsorship or partner with READ to RISE, please visit www.readtorise.org or email info@readtorise.co.za

#literacy #internationliteracyday #readtorise #nationalbookweek

Comedy Night Fundraiser 3 August 2024

Please join us for a fun Comedy Night on Saturday 3 August 2024 at West End Primary School (Merrydale Avenue, Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain).

Tickets are R100 per person.

Available here or at the door.

2023 Cape Flats Book Festival set for 4-5 November 2023

The third Cape Flats Book Festival is set to take place on 4-5 November 2023 at West End Primary School in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. The festival is organised by literacy NGO Read to Rise and this year’s book festival is sponsored by the Western Cape Government, Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports and West End Primary School. Read to Rise Chairman Nicholas Williams and West End Primary School Principal Mr Clive Arries will attend the opening ceremony on Saturday 4 November 2023 at 10am.

“We’re excited to be hosting the third Cape Flats Book Festival in November and have some amazing authors and poets lined up. There’s lots for both adults and children and the events are free to attend.” says Taryn Lock, Executive Director.

This year the programme includes poets Siphokazi Jonas, Diana Ferris, Khadija Heeger, Cape Cultural Collective poets, Poets Vannie Kaap, Mengelmoesdigters, 13 year old poet Leila Phoenix Alexander, to name a few. Authors include Patric Tariq Mellet, Nadia Kamies, Tessa Dooms & Lynsey Chutel (Coloured), Nikki Munitz (Fraud), Yusuf Daniels, Joy Watson, Sarah Isaacs (Glass Tower), Mia Arderne, Baydu Adams, Nadine Dirks (Hot Water), Sindiwe Magona, Megan Choritz, Getrude Fester, Dennis Cruywagen, Willy Mathys and many more.

Children’s book authors include Karen Theunissen, Nonikiwe Mashologu, Naomi Meyer, Anthony Silverston, Christina Kleynhans, Paulvin Webster, Daniel Clarke & Dan Snaddon (KARIBA) and many more.

There will be over 40 sessions during the 2 days with over 60 speakers. There will be a poetry and identity workshop (by Life Righting Collective) and an information session for aspiring writers. Kids can come see the Oaky Puppet Show and an appearance by Oaky the mascot. There will be exhibitors with books and food on sale - fun for both adults and children.

The book festival will take place Saturday November 2023 10:00-16:00 and Sunday 5 November 2023 10:00-14:30 at West End Primary School, Merrydale Avenue, Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain. Entrance is free.

We are grateful to West End Primary School for hosting the event once again and we thank the Office of the Western Cape Premier and Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports for sponsoring the events. We also thank The Plainsman for their media coverage of the Cape Flats Book Festival.

“The Cape Flats Book Festival is rewriting the narrative of the Cape Flats by bringing stories, ideas and dreams to life. We are recasting literary festivals as events relevant and accessible to everyone. We are building bridges between communities. Our mission is to explicitly bring SA’s authors and publishers to the Cape Flats and to showcase the Cape Flats’ authors. These two worlds, so often structurally divided, are brought together at the festival.” says Read to Rise Co-Founder Athol Williams.

The Cape Flats Book Festival brings children and adults together around books - the best way to inspire to read is for them to see adults reading. It also facilitates economic opportunities for book sellers, publishers, NGOs, food sellers and authors.

READ to RISE, founded in 2013, is a non-profit organisation that promotes youth literacy in under-resourced communities in South Africa. We hope to inspire children to read so that they can ‘rise’ above their circumstances. To date, the organisation has conducted over 6,800 class programmes and given out over 300,000 new story books to children around South Africa.

For more information or if you would like to assist READ to RISE in promoting youth literacy, please visit www.capeflatsbookfestival.com or email info@readtorise.co.za