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"Reading forms such an important part of our daily lives, something that most people take for granted," says says Denise Green, corporate social investment manager at PenBev. "The Masiphumelele Library is an important project for us at PenBev and forms part of our Live for a Difference Campaign, whereby we invest in the well-being of our communities. We believe that the Masiphumelele Library is doing so much more than purely providing a building with books."
From humble beginnings of trading books from the back of a car boot, the Masiphumelele library has grown to be a very important landmark in the Noordhoek area. This library is no longer an ordinary traditional place to read and exchange books, but is now a learning centre.
The Masiphumelele Library has a wide variety of activities that are offered to the community. Adults can participate in the library's adult literacy classes, computer classes, parent programmes and senior film shows, while the youth can participate in projects such as art workshops, tutor and mentorship programmes, a philosophy club and a girls group. There are also several programmes available to pre- and primary school learners.
Susan Alexander, the driving force behind the success of the Masiphumelele Library indicates they have been able to be so successful thanks to the support of the City of Cape Town and to the phenomenal sponsorship that they have received from organisations such as the Masiphumelele Corporation, Peninsula Beverages and the Rotary Club.
"As we have grown, we have been able to add additional exciting activities for the community to enjoy. One of the programmes that is close to my heart, introduced in 2009, is a tutor and mentorship programme - the IkamvaYouth programme - where we look at providing learners in disadvantaged areas access to post-school opportunities and in turn they pay it forward to others. This is done through a tutoring, mentoring and career guidance programme for grade 9 to 12 learners.
"We currently have 80 learners attending three times a week after school and on Saturday morning. These young people are determined to change their futures for the best. At the end of each year, we recognise their commitment, progress and hard work with a prize-giving where each learner receives a small token gift. We are always on the lookout for gifts that we can give to these learners at the end of the year," Alexander concludes.
