Novus Holdings has always believed in providing those in need with a hand up, not a hand out and giving beneficiaries the right tools to empower themselves as to inspire others and positively transform communities. This is why, when we heard about Mkhanyiseli Primary School based in Nyanga, Western Cape, we decided to step in and do our part.
At Mkhanyiseli Primary, enrolment numbers continue to increase and the need for learning spaces continue to grow. Each classroom has a book corner with a few books and there was great need to have a stocked functional library on site that more than 1,000 leaners could access.
In partnership with Breadline Africa, whose goal is to help children do better in school by ensuring that they have safer spaces to learn in, Novus Holdings installed a 30m² prefabricated library at the much deserving school.
The official launch of the library took place virtually on Thursday, 20 May 2021, and was attended by the school principal Mrs. Klaas, members of schools governing body, Breadline Africa and representatives of Novus Holdings. Attendees were treated to a musical performance by the school choir, as well as a poem, which was read by a learner of Mkhanyiseli Primary.
In her address to attendees Carrie Nixon, Marketing and Communications Manager at Novus Holdings, shared her appreciation to all parties that helped bring this project to fruition. She also referenced a recent quote of Steve Thobela’s due to how profound it is and how it really sums up why Novus Holdings invests in projects like these. “Access to books for academic purposed is critical for South Africa. We cannot simply risk intensifying the literacy challenges we already face within our country and in that, the delivery and availability of physical printed books remain essential so that we can continue to build a reading nation.”
This library, filled with more than 800 age appropriate books, aims to benefit not only learners at Mkhanyiseli Primary, but children throughout the Nyanga community. “We hope that this library will be a safe space for learners of Mkhanyiseli to read, imagine and express their creativity, and that the books will inspire the children to make a greater contribution to society”, concluded Carrie.
