Althaeá’s books make a real difference in South Africa

6 Jul

Written By Editor

Last year 8-year-old Althaeá Dickinson from York became the youngest Bambisanani Partnership volunteer collecting 1,091 reading books for primary schools in the remote and underserved Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. She had learned that schools in the area did not have many reading books and were not able to participate in World Book Day. She felt very strongly that World Book Day should be for ALL children in the world and decided to do something about it.

The books made a tremendous impact in 2024 and Althaeá has continued her book campaign this year collecting a further 1,164 books which were taken out to South Africa recently by Bambisanani volunteers from St. Mary’s School and Newcastle College. The books have now been delivered and are being enthusiastically read by children at Thembinfundo Special School, Vumanhlamvu Primary School, Ngqomzana Primary School and Doremi Day Care Centre for orphans and vulnerable children.

Literacy is a key priority for children in the remote rural areas and Priscilla Guliwe from The KwaZulu-Natal Department for Education was full of praise for Althaeá:

“Our children are enjoying the books and reading is improving their life chances. They can now read the books without supervision and reading is becoming a hobby to them. South Africa loves you Althaeá!”

— Priscilla Guliwe, KwaZulu-Natal Department for Education

Mr William Vilazazi, Principal of Vumhlamvu Primary School said, “With Althaeá’s help we now have some books in every classroom. Our learners are loving reading the diverse range of books that she has provided. She contacted me earlier in the year to ask what kind of books my learners would like. Gaining a love of reading now will have a massive impact on their futures. It is wonderful that one so young can be so thoughtful about other children in the world.”

In South Africa, volunteer students from St. Mary’s, School and Newcastle College were able to use the books to support their literacy programmes.

Darren Beardsley, Chairman of the Bambisanani Partnership added, “As a charity, we are incredibly grateful for the support provided by Althaea. She has demonstrated incredible initiative and determination, with this having a positive impact on the schools and the Orphanage that we work with in South Africa. Althaea is an example to us all and I am delighted that her work is making such a difference to so many people.”

Althaeá raised money and bought many books from Charity Shops. She also got tremendous help and support for her work from The Grove Bookshop and WH Smith in Ilkley, Kemps Bookshop in Malton. Fox Lane Books in York, Aireborough Rotary Club, Otley Lions, the parishioners of St Thomas More and St. John Fisher Church in Burley-in Wharfedale as well as from Sue Rix and Rachel Baines. Althaeá said that she would like to thank everyone who had been so kind helping her with this project.

Brogan O’Connor, Bambisanani charity trustee and Leader of the Newcastle College volunteer group said, “I have seen first hand the impact that these books have. Lots of people recognise inequalities but never do anything about them, Althaeá is amazing, she has just got on with this and made things happen. She is making a real difference and it is great to have her on the team.”

The books were certainly well received at Doremi Day Care Centre: