SA children celebrate Literacy Day

International Literacy Day was initiated on 8 September in 1966 by UNESCO to raise people's awareness of literacy issues. Since then, the day has risen in stature, taking a place of prominence on many countries' calendars.

In celebrating the day, the Centre for the Book, an outreach unit of the National Library, invited about 200 children from different primary schools and children's homes in Pretoria to the event, where they were entertained by musicians and storytellers.

Executive Head of the Centre for the Book, Mandlakayise Matyumza, said Literacy Day was meant to promote and inculcate a culture of reading.

"We will continue to work tirelessly to achieve this goal," he said, urging parents to encourage their children to read.

Local celebrities also put their star power to good use, sharing with the young ones the value of reading.

"The power of knowing how to read is very important in today's world. You can be anything you want to be if you enjoy reading," said actress and TV personality Sophie Ndaba, noting that the power of reading opened doors to the future.

The guest of honour, Ontlametse Phalatse, a young South African girl who captured the nation's heart by the way she courageously lives with Progeria, encouraged her peers to stretch their imaginations through reading.

She told SAnews she enjoyed reading different genres of books and that her favourite book was 'Best Rules for Girls'. Asked why that particular book, she said it helped her to learn how to conduct herself as a girl.

"The book talks a lot about girl issues," said the spirited teenager.

The National Library of South Africa made Ontlametse's wish a reality by arranging for her to meet with Sophie Ndaba.