As a continuation of the time spent packing gift boxes on Mandela Day in July this year, I joined MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet, the Santa Shoebox Project and Book Dash yesterday to deliver some early Christmas cheer to three of the Cape’s pre-primary schools. This serves as part of MySchool’s partnership with Book Dash to donate 50 000 books to children under the age of seven years old.
Working with the teachers we helped distribute the lovingly packed Santa Shoeboxes, getting to appreciate their excited little faces as they opened their boxes to discover the books, toys, clothes, some basic toiletries and of course a few sweet treats.
If you don’t have a MySchool card please apply for one and start contributing to projects such as these that are truly making a significant difference across the country. Giving back and bringing joy is what the day was all about, and I am truly humbled and greatly privileged to have been a small part of it. My heart is filled to bursting.
MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet teams up with Book Dash to donate 50 000 books in Santa Shoeboxes.
To create a nation of lifelong readers and support literacy among youth, research shows that every child should own and have access to storybooks. Yet, books are expensive, often seen as a luxury, and owning just one storybook is out of the reach of millions of South African children. This Christmas, the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet community loyalty programme is changing this for 50 000 children under seven years old. MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet has partnered with Book Dash and the Santa Shoebox Project to ignite a love of reading through book ownership.
“Education is a high priority for many of our MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet supporters, and low levels of literacy is one of the country’s greatest challenges,” says Trish Kowo, MySchool’s Marketing Manager. “This Christmas we looked for a high impact project to support, and we are delighted to partner with the Santa Shoebox Project and Book Dash to bring the joys, fun and benefits of reading into the homes of 50 000 young children.”
Book Dash, a registered non-profit organisation, has an innovative model to create and share new, quality South African children’s books that are highly affordable. Over the past four years, 128 original storybooks, across eleven indigenous languages, have been created by volunteer creative teams at 12-hour events called Book Dashes. More than 650 000 books have been printed and put in the small hands of young children at a cost of as little as R10 a book.
According to Dorette Louw, Book Dash Director, a 2016 study undertaken by the South African Book Development Council revealed that 58% of South African households do not have a single leisure book. “Our work is evidence-based,” Louw says, “Access to books is critical to increasing literacy skills, school readiness, vocabulary and numeracy skills. Research shows that children who are keen readers or who are often read to by adults, are more engaged, more attentive and have higher levels of empathy.
Reading improves socio-emotional development, and as a shared activity strengthens the relationships between children and their caregivers. Owning books can significantly boost a disadvantaged child’s academic achievements and change the course of their lives for the better. We’re delighted that the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet programme and their supporters are partnering with us to get our books into so many Santa shoeboxes that go straight to disadvantaged children this Christmas.”
The Santa Shoebox project is one of South Africa’s most popular charities and after fourteen years, has donated over 850 000 gift boxes to children around South Africa and Namibia. “The project is well-known for its personal nature,” says Deborah Zelezniak, Chief Executive Officer of the Santa Shoebox Project.
“Through our partner network of more than 1000 recipient facilities, the name, age and gender of every child is known to their donors. A typical Santa Shoebox contains toothpaste and a toothbrush, a bar of soap and washcloth, an outfit of clothing, educational supplies, sweets and toys. This year, thanks to MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet supporters, it has been a delight to also add a wonderful Book Dash storybook to the gift boxes going to 50 000 children under seven.”
The Essential Details
To become a supporter, sign up for free as a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet cardholder at www.myschool.co.za or download the App. You can select up to three causes that matter to you. Every time you swipe your card at a participating retailer, a donation is made to your beneficiaries on your behalf, at no cost to you.
** Pics are mine with a few captured by official photographer Calvin Fisher. This is a post in collaboration with MySchool. For more info contact Kelly Fisher of Irvine Partners at kelly@irvinepartners.co.za
*** Read my other MySchool blog posts
