It was the culmination of a dream that began 5 months ago when I heard some startling statistics regarding literacy levels for primary school children in SA and the lack of access to books.
I have always believed that stories are such an important part of a child's life. They open up a whole new world, for language to develop, emotions to be experienced as well as the opportunity for nuturing to occur. Graceland is blessed to have a number of potential story tellers who visit every week in the form of Students from the University of Stellenbosch!!! These students have come on board and are beginning to read regularly to the children which is fantastic and very well received.
It is such a beautiful thing to see a child pickup a book and find pleasure in its pages. We have witnessed times when a group of children have been excitedly showing each other their books and other times when a child is just sitting quietly engrossed in the pictures of a story. Of course we still have some way to go regarding 'book etiquette' but we will get there!!
Elizabeth has some great ideas for incorporating the library into everyday use as well as looking at how it might benefit and bless Devon Valley in a wider sense in the future.
It is also wonderful to have somewhere for the children to go when they are feeling poorly at school. The new bunkbeds and bedding are superb as is the new vinyl on the floors in all the rooms. These come courtesy of a generous donation from Lewis stores. This library and Sick room has been a real team effort from not only within Graceland but the wider community also.
The opening gave us the opportunity to say a big thankyou to those who faithfully support Graceland, and we were honoured to have over 20 of them join us. Including Marilize from Devon Valley hotel, Ginny Swart, Katherine Berger, Louis Van Schalwyk, Caitlyn Keal and some of the Uni Students.
Following the cutting of the ribbon Katharine Berger read a wonderful story to the children who were enthralled. We then had coffee and cake on the stoep which was ably served by Grade 11 learners from the School of Hope who also baked and decorated some amazing cup cakes for the children.
Finally I came across a paragragh on a leaflet the other day which sums up what I feel about this project.
"If we can teach children to love stories, we can teach children to love reading. And the children who love reading will make this country's story one worth telling everywhere" (Nathalie Koenig 2011)
Zoe Lee, Volunteer
