October 19, 2010 –St John’s Prep School recently organised a reading of the picture book edition of Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom for Parktown Public School Grade 4 learners.
The reading was held at St John’s College in Houghton, Johannesburg, and conducted by the book’s writer, Chris van Wyk, who also signed a copy of the book for each learner.
The book, which was illustrated by Paddy Bouma, aims to encourage reading among children while also telling the story of Mr Mandela’s life and core values.
St John’s College raised the money to buy the books, which publisher Pan Macmillan sold at a discount in support of encouraging reading among children.
Van Wyk read sections of the book to nearly 600 learners, made up of Parktown Public School’s Grade 4s and St John’s College’s Grades 1–7, captivating them with both his easy manner and personal anecdotes he would weave in to the storytelling.
Learners and teachers alike were visibly thrilled to receive copies of the children’s version of Long Walk to Freedom, and it is the Foundation’s hope that these will inspire not just a love of reading and learning, but also an interest in continuing Mr Mandela’s legacy of giving through Mandela Day.
Ziyanda Manaway with his copy of the book
Chris with St John’s Grade 4s