In celebration of Nelson Mandela International Day, Read Alex will proudly host the 67 minutes Read-a-thon. A vibrant community centred event that promotes literacy and love for reading among children in the community. Provide a safe, fun space for children to enjoy reading through storytelling, games and arts and crafts. The event will further encourage book ownership by distributing donated books to children.
About Read Alex.
Read Alex is a community initiative that seeks to entrench the culture of reading among children growing up in Alexandra and surrounding areas. Read Alex hosts educational sessions every weekend for children between the ages of 8 and 18 years, at Kwabhekilanga Sports Grounds.
During these sessions our volunteers teach children to read and learn through different methods that include educational games and science experiments.
About the Event.
Children will be grouped into small, age appropriate, groups. Each group will move around different stations with each station providing different activities such as reading, bookmark making stations. Each station will be managed by volunteers who will read to the children, facilitate discussions and guide them on artwork.
How to get Involved
1. Volunteer
You can get involved by volunteering 67 minutes of your time to:
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Read to the children
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Facilitate a bookmark making session
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Facilitate a learning experiment/discussion
2. Donate a book
We would like each of our children to walk away with a book
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We welcome a donation of high quality new or gently used children's books
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We have also put together a list of book that you can buy for the children as part of your contribution
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Books from the below list may be ordered on Exclusive Books, Amazon, Takealot and be delivered to: Ryan Brown, Workshop 17, 16 Baker St, Floor 10, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196. Contact 073 021 6396
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Books may also be dropped off at Kwabhekilanga Sports Grounds - Contact Anelisa to arrange dropoff - 078 491 0201
More Info
Contact
On Event - Samkelisiwe: +27 62 998 0153
Online Book Donations - Ryan: +27 73 021 6396
Kwabhekilange Book Drop-Off - Anelisa: +27 78 491 0201
Bonus! Our most wanted books list + our favourite bookstores
You are welcome to purchase any children’s books for us to add to our collection, but
there are a few titles our kids would love to get their hands on, and where you can buy
them:
SPORTS BOOKS
Caster Semenya: Road to Glory by Jeremy Daniel
Girls Don't Do That: The Story of Thembi Kgatlana, The Greatest Player in Africa by Nikolaos Kirkinis, Thembi Kgatlana
Qhawe!: Mokgadi Caster Semenya by Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang
The Race To Be Myself: Adapted for Younger Readers by Caster Semenya
Siya Kolisi by Jeremy Daniel
PICTURE / STORY BOOKS
A friend for all seasons by Refiloe Moahloli, Nicci Martin
All that I am: A treasury of South African poems and songs by Refiloe Moahloli & Others
Big Shoes to Fill by Upile uThixo Bongco
Brave Like Me! by Zulaikha Patel
Disaster at Gogo's Spaza by Salamina Mosese
The Girl with 21 Questions by Boitumelo Mothupi
Modjadji The Rain Queen by Donve Lee
Nomkhubulwane, African Mother Christmas by Gcina Mhlophe
Refilwe by Zukiswa Wanner
Remarkable Me by Tswanelo Serumola
Storytime Africa – Cross-With-Us Rhinoceros by John Bush
We are One by Refiloe Moahloli, Zinelda McDonald
Yes Yanga! by Refiloe Moahloli
You Choose by Pippa Goodhart
CHAPTER BOOKS
I Am Shudu by Shudufhadzo Musida
Indaba, My Children: African Tribal History, Legends, Customs And Religious Beliefs by Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa
Journey to Jo'burg: A South African Story by Beverley Naidoo
Know My Name by Refiloe Moahloli
Mamello by Lebohang Jeanet Pheko
Part Of A Team by Refiloe MoahloliThabo the Space Dude (and other books from the same series) by Lori-Ann Preston
Tilly & Thandeka: The Crown of Ancient Ghana by Nicole Rimensberger
Waldo and the Werewolf With the Red Takkies (and other Waldo series books) by Jaco
Jacobs
When the Village Sleeps: A Novel by Sindiwe Magona
SCIENCE/TECH AND HISTORY BOOKS
The Official ScratchJr Book: Help Your Kids Learn to Code by Marina Umaschi Bers and Mitchel Resnick
Collective Nouns for Africa by Meggan Schaefer
My First South Africa Atlas by Sean Fraser
Who Is Greta Thunberg? by Lisbeth Kaiser
Who Was Nelson Mandela? by Pam Pollack
and any kids science reference books
Where to buy these (and other) books:
Jacana Media has a wide selection of South African’s children’s books – we’d be happy to have anything from their catalogue!
Buy directly from your local independent bookstore. Some of our favourite Joburg bookstores include:
Book Circle Capital: 27 Boxes, Melville
Bridge Books: 59 4th Ave in Linden AND 89 Helen Joseph St Marshalltown
Love Books: 53 Rustenburg Road, Melville
Any purchased books can be sent to:
Ryan Brown
Workshop 17
16 Baker St, Floor 10
Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196
073 021 6396
Alternatively, contact Ryan (+27 73 021 6396) to find a drop off point or arrange pick up.
Sponsor a Book for the Read Alex Mandela Day
Reading Marathon!
Every R25 you donate buys a new picture book from Book Dash for a kid in Alex.
Donations can be sent by EFT to:
Account Holder: Ryan Lenora Brown
Bank: FNB
Account Number: 62490065648
Branch code: 250655
Ref: Book Dash
eWallet to: 073 021 6396
