Cape Town: The City of Cape Town is celebrating World Read Aloud Day (WRAD) on Feb 07, 2024. The libraries of Cape Town City are collaborating with Nal’ibali to initiate the reading campaign.
While celebrating the WRAD, the City of Cape Town aims to welcome 3 million children across the country with the magic of stories being read.
Member of Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health Councillor – Patricia van der Ross said that it is one of their aims to develop a culture of reading among the children of the nation, and it starts with hearing stories being read out loud.
Health Councillor added to her statement, “Listening to a story does more than take you on an adventure you have to imagine.”
She added that reading aloud develops listening skills, models the use of language and improves vocabulary and comprehension. It also motivates young children to read for themselves.
WRAD was established by LIT World back in 2010 as a celebration of reading aloud, community literacy and marking the importance of sharing stories.
The associated partner Nal’ibali are the local drivers of the project in South Africa and each year they set a national target that they aim to achieve.
Alike previous year, this year the goal is for all participants is to read to at least three million children across the country, including parents and caregivers.
The City of Cape Town’s Library and Information Services (LIS) is another major key partner in this initiative. This year, the World Read Aloud Day events will be hosted by all the libraries across the city.
Considering the events, most city libraries will be offering storytelling sessions and in some Suburbs, librarians will also go out to areas where young children are not able to visit the library on their own.
The flagship event will take place at the Green Point Urban Park where 200 children will listen to stories by a numerous storyteller.
Councillor Van der Ross added to her words that finding time in busy days to read aloud to children can be a challenge.
“I want to encourage parents and caregivers to start this WRAD with one story. We often highlight the many benefits of reading to children and bonding with your child is only one. It’s an in their education and future, which only costs some of your time,” said the councillor.