NGO extends reading plan to more Johannesburg areas

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The programme will continue to be extended to include other areas, such as Roodepoort and Johannesburg Central over the next few months with the hope of branching out to Tshwane soon.

As an organisation, it recruits and trains volunteers from underprivileged communities before placing them in primary schools where teachers identify children who struggle with reading English. Volunteers dedicate half an hour of their time to each child twice a week and provide them with long-term, one-to-one care and support by building their self-esteem and confidence levels. The programme makes reading fun, by combining reading and playing games.

"Funding remains greatest challenge"

"While we stand firmly by our vision that all South African children leave primary school literate and enjoying reading, funding remains one of our greatest challenges. We welcome any donations from sponsors no matter how big or small, whether it is money, books or games," says Candice Swart, Gauteng regional manager of help2read.

Some of the organisation's initial sample group assessments, done in 2011, showed that that none of the Grade 3 learners selected to participate in the programme read at the required level. After an average of seven months, during which the learners received assistance from a volunteer, 67.5% of the learners read at or above grade level.

For more, go to www.help2read.org.