On 19 July 2014, in commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of service to others, Breadline Africa, Volkswagen staff and the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory opened the 45th Mandela Day container library.
Sponsored by the Volkswagen Community Trust, the library at Alfonso Arries Primary School in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape will provide students, teachers and Chatty community members with much-needed educational material.
The container library handover formed part of Mandela Day celebrations at the Primary School, where Volkswagen staff and their families spent time serving the community in various ways.
As part of their corporate social investment, Volkswagen initiated a “Show of Hands” campaign to get employees actively involved in community development, with Alfonso Arries Primary School as a beneficiary. The staff planted trees, cleaned classrooms and handed over a Mandela Day container library as well as full rugby kits for the school’s under 11 and under 13 rugby teams.
Located between Port Elizabeth and Uitenhage, Alfonso Arries principal Nomaxabiso Mkencele runs the only primary school in the area. She faces many challenges as enrolment increases dramatically every year. Currently she supports 1 968 learners, and her teachers are overwhelmed with an average of 120 learners per classroom.
Mrs Mkencele explained that the community was unable to access library facilities. As such, the container library was well received, along with the opening stock of 800 books, sponsored by Breadline Africa, Nal ‘iBali and Volkswagen staff.
The public sector partnership with Breadline Africa means that the library at Alfonso Arries Primary School will be supported and monitored by district-level library and information services.
The acknowledgement and support received on the day from national, provincial and district-level representatives of the Department of Basic Education was very encouraging as it showed the importance of the multi-sector approach needed in literacy development.
The school will also be supported by Praesa, an NGO focused on reading for enjoyment. Their Nal ‘iBali campaign representatives were also present on the day to launch a reading club in support of the school's literacy development efforts.