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Learners clocked up impressive numbers of
books in the annual Reading Race, with the winner ploughing through 158 books
in 10 months.
HUNDREDS of books were read by children at
the Rhodes Park Library in eastern Joburg, with 16 of them rewarded for their
participation in the annual Reading Race.
Tappie, the Joburg Water mascot, was at the winners’ ceremony, dancing and sharing his message of saving water
"The Reading Race started 15 years ago
among the schools in Joburg, especially in the eastern part, including
Kensington, Bez Valley, and Troyeville," said Edith Khuzwayo, a librarian at
the Rhodes Park.
"The Reading Race is used to lure people to
the library and also for kids to pick up the culture of reading - that's the
main reason for the race, to make children read."
Last year's race started in February and
ended in November, with Kensington Primary's Natasha Kruger dashing past the
finish line, having read a whopping 158 books in the 10 months.
"Natasha has done a great thing," said Khuzwayo.
"She came here from an Afrikaans school and couldn't read English. We started
her off with a basic English book, and now she can read extremely well."
Tappie, the Joburg Water mascot, was at the
winners' ceremony, dancing and sharing his message of saving water with the
learners. The ceremony was held on Monday, 1 February, in Kensington.
To enter the race, schoolchildren simply
need to go to the library as often as possible, take out books and read them. A
register keeps track of the number of books that are taken from the library. At
present, the Reading Race only takes place at the Rhodes Park Library.
"I like all kinds of books, especially ones
about teenagers and teen-related issues," said 13-year-old Sharon Sithole of
Troyeville primary. She read an impressive 63 books in 2009. "I read for fun
... If I don't have homework or extramural activities, I read."
Hawa Bukasa, a 13-year-old learner, was
also honoured at the event. She read 69 books last year. "Meg Cabot is my
favourite author. She wrote the Princess Diaries series," she said.
Her younger sister, Janet, who read 57
books in the year, was honoured as well.
The reading programme at Rhodes Park
Library is not only for children, however; it accommodates everyone from all
walks of life.
People who cannot read are encouraged to
come to the library, where they will be taught to read, starting with the
basics. "If you read every day, your level of reading will increase," said Khuzwayo.
"We do have English classes where we see
foreigners and older people who are eager to learn English and to take out
books to read. [But] the children are still a main focus for us."
The library is developing workshops for
adults and parents to show them the importance of reading, and also so they can
read to their children. Workshops are expected to begin at the end of March.
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