Page 21 - FWG Issue 3 April 2023

Estate News

BOOK VILLAGE INFORMATION EVENING

n Monday, 13 March we were
so pleased to be able to host an
information evening focused on
OBook Village NPC and our online
reading programme. It was a great, informal
evening where existing volunteers and
residents who were interested in our cause
and potentially becoming a volunteer were
able to meet and enjoy a glass of wine
sponsored by Spier, and some delicious
pizza from The Gardens Bistro.

Thank you to Elmine, Francois and the staff
at the Clubhouse and The Gardens Bistro
for such wonderful service in planning the
event and supporting our cause. We look
forward to hosting more events like this in
the future.

Did you know South Africa has a reading
crisis with over 80% of children in Grade 4
being unable to read for meaning, and 60%
of children leave Grade 1 without knowing
the alphabet?

One of the underlying causes is the
distressing lack of human connection in the
learning-to-read process. With substantial
class sizes, teachers are over-extended and
not able to give the children the individual
attention needed to learn to read. Book
Village has developed an app that connects
volunteer tutors, foundation phase children
and a reading scheme by Oxford University
Press so that every child might learn to
read at their own level and pace. Reading
sessions are a maximum of 20 minutes each
to accommodate children’s short attention
spans, as well as the limited time many
volunteers are able to give in their busy
schedules.

We have an amazing group of volunteers,
and we are looking to grow this community
as we implement it in more schools. The
volunteering process for Book Village is
simple and easy. It is a safe, efficient and
measurable way to help, and all you need is
a device and a stable internet connection.
Volunteers will feel the benefits of being
directly connected to the good they are
doing.

To find out more, or sign up as a volunteer,
please go to www.bookvillage.co.za, or
send an email to info@bookvillage.co.za if
you have any questions.

Fourways Gardens • 19 • April 2023