Mmangwana Mobile Library Project: Making a positive impact in the community through the literacy program (WFWP South Africa)

By: Flory Ledwaba

The ability to read fluently and with comprehension – is the doorway to success in school and life. However, there is an overwhelming need for support, especially in rural areas for children to develop and learn to read with understanding. Answering the call for the community's literacy problems, WFWP South Africa with the support from WFWPI embark on a Mobile Library/ Literacy project. The project was launched on March 19, 2022 at a local Primary School in Bramfischerville, Soweto. The launch was attended by 50 students, parents, and school officials.

The project aims to positively nurture the curiosity of the children and help them achieve a solid foundation for learning. The session consists of singing, poem recitation, reading, writing, and arts and crafts activity. We also give age-appropriate character education instilling the values of hard work, generosity, compassion, cleanliness, patriotism, and filial piety through storytelling. Since then, more and more children are joining the program. And it is always a joyful experience to witness the interest that is being developed by the children as they participate in the activities. Parents in the community are happy about the project and some have even offered to give some assistance. They said that their children always look forward to attending the session.

Currently, we have two primary schools where we do our weekly program. We were able to reach out to about 150 students ages 5 -12 years old. Although it is a nominal intervention in providing a solution to the great challenge of literacy in the community, the Mmangwana (which means mother and child in the local dialect) Team is gradually making a positive impact in the community where some of the children come from illiterate parents or caregivers.