Cape Town: The Fine Free Week for young people will be hosted from Dec 16 to 21, 2024 when the libraries will launch the Eco-warrior Reading Programme. The week will provide young patrons, approximately of age 17, an opportunity to return library materials.
In total, there are 280 books in the library which are outstanding for the age category and values more than R30,000.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said that their fine free weeks have presented good results in the past and this time also they are hoping to receive similar outcomes.
Ross expressed, “I encourage young people to exploit the opportunity and return those books that they may have forgotten about, with no fines payable during the period.”
“I also want to encourage the learners to please return any study guides or materials that they used during the exams, so that we can start the new year with everything back where it belongs and accessible to the other patrons,” added the Councillor.
To commemorate the same, City of Cape Town is organising Eco-warrior Reading Programme. It is a collaboration between the city libraries, Urban Waste Management Department, Nal’ibali and Read to Rise.
The programme will begin on Dec 17, 2024 and will be observed until Jan 31, 2025, which will invite children aged nine to thirteen.
Eco-warrior Reading Programme aims to promote environmental awareness, that encourages reading and foster a love for nature. It also considers the so-called ‘summer reading slump’.
Moreover, research shows that the children can lose between two and three months of reading progress during the holiday periods, primarily due to the lack of engagement with books and other reading material. The reading programme ensures to address the climate change in numerous ways.
Notably, the kids who will participate in the programme will receive an activity booklet that will serve as their guide throughout the programme.
Participants can collect the activity booklet from their local library and can do the fun activities at home too or can participate at the library. Upon completing the booklet, participants will stand a chance to win a super cool goodie bag.
To this, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said that the Eco-warrior Reading Programme is a unique initiative that combines reading, environmental education and climate action.
The programme will motivate young people to read and learn as reading improves writing skills too. “We would like to encourage our young people to visit the nearest library and get involved, so that they can reap the benefits in the future,” explained Ross.