ACA Threads participates as Sponsor in the 2021 Rally to READ Programme
05 March 2021 - The Rally to Read primary school education project supports rural schools in South Africa with carefully selected resource and teacher training, encouraging literacy development and a love of reading amongst our rural children.
Rally to Read is an extra-ordinary story of caring, collaboration and hope – of things intensely human. It’s an example of creating true partnerships and making a real difference in Rally to Read’s primary focus of promoting literacy at grassroots level, in remote rural schools across South Africa. For more than two decades, Rally to Read, in partnership with the Department of Education, has worked tirelessly alongside corporate and private sponsors to deliver books, teaching aids, Grade R educational equipment and toys, as well as other much-needed resources to these schools.
Message from Mr. Brian Prehn – Western Cape Manager, Read Education Trust:
“We have started our 3rd and final year with the 12 schools in the Cape Winelands District and progress is pleasing.
Resources (books and stationery) were purchased according to individual school needs and packed at Volkswagen Parow as always. The bulk of the books were Afrikaans (fiction and non-fiction) and aimed at the INTERSEN (Gr 4-7) Phase – again, as requested by schools. Because of COVID learners are no longer allowed to share crayons, pencils, stationery etc. in groups which has created a tremendous need with schools as each learner now has to have his or her own set of stationery.
The Team Leaders and I delivered the resources on 10 February 2021 as prearranged with schools. Learners were not back at school yet, which allowed teachers time to unpack resources and to see how stationery could be used to fill the huge gaps.
Schools were all overjoyed and appreciative of their incredible gifts! A few tears were shed, and a number of principals and teachers were astounded that despite COVID they were still being supported in such a generous and caring way.
I was most impressed to find that most schools had started covering the books the very next day and that in some cases the task had been completed by my next visit.
Learners have responded enthusiastically to the new books and reading has certainly “taken off”. At Scherpenheuwel learners were so excited by their new “booty” that they organized a Reading Marathon last Friday. I have also spoken to teachers about awarding Reading Certificates to learners who read the agreed number of books per term.
I have visited all schools (following all COVID protocols) and teachers, on the whole, are very positive.”
“ACA was once again proud to be a sponsor of the 2021 Western Cape Rally. Many thanks to the Rally to Read team for their relentless efforts and commitment towards implementing the 2021 Rally programme, despite all the challenges they, the schools and the learners faced due to Covid.”
Eckhard Marshing, CEO ACA Threads
For more information on this wonderful project please click below:
http://www.read.org.za/what-we-do/rally-to-read/
or phone 087 237 7781 for more information on how you can contribute.