Biblionef South Africa is proud to drive an initiative that promotes early childhood literacy across the Western Cape. Supported by our donor, this project equips 100 Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres with a carefully selected range of resources (quality storybooks in home languages and English, educational toys, puzzles, and posters), all designed to spark curiosity and enhance learning.

Thus far, the following Training Centres have been supported:

• ELRU
• Early Year Service
• Sikhula Sonke Early Childhood Development
• Starting Chance

ECD Centres receiving support from the above-mentioned Training Centres have been selected to participate in this project. Additional ECD Centres will be selected to participate in this exciting project in the upcoming months.

This initiative goes beyond providing materials. It is built on the firm belief that children learn by example when adults model good reading habits. In our most recent handover, which coincided with World Read Aloud Day, our project manager led a live storytelling session demonstrating how to use these resources effectively; some of the practitioners also joined in to do their own storytelling. Such hands-on engagement underlines the critical role that educators, caregivers, and community leaders play in fostering a love for reading and laying the foundation for lifelong literacy.

Each set of resources is tailored to the Centres’ specific needs; this thoughtful approach ensures that every child benefits from an environment that supports both learning and play.

As we continue to expand our efforts, we are also in the process of selecting additional Training Centres to extend our impact further. At Biblionef South Africa, we believe that when adults lead by example, they open the door to endless opportunities for our youngest learners.

A special thank you to the MacFarlane Family Foundation for making this project possible.