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Cape Town - SA Rugby on Wednesday launched its seventh Boks for Books library, at the Walmer Primary School in Port Elizabeth as its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme continues to uplift communities through literacy country-wide.
The new library will mark the second of its kind in the Eastern Cape, with the other being at the Gcobani Higher Primary School in the Mdantsane Township, nestled between East London and King William’s Town.
The launch of the library was attended by SA Rugby Exco member Mr Francois Davids, and Springbok squad members Lwazi Mvovo, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jesse Kriel, Steven Kitshoff and Sikhumbuzo Notshe.
The library is housed in a specially-made mobile container and is fully stocked with books and audio visual equipment including a television and computer, a Libwin library system, and furniture, all of which has been funded in full by SA Rugby.
The school has a total of 1,414 learners from Grade R to Grade 7, and despite having no library up to now, the school principal, Mrs Zukiswa Maku, has instituted a reading period to boost literacy at the school.
“We are delighted to launch our seventh Boks for Books library and the second one in the Eastern Cape at Walmer Primary School,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux.
“Our Boks for Books programme has grown from strength to strength since its inception in 2013, and we are hope to see it continue to make in-roads throughout the country.
“Literacy and education is crucial to the future of our nation, and we hope that through this programme SA Rugby can make a significant contribution to education in some of South Africa’s needy communities.
“We hope to see some of the learners benefiting from this programme follow in the footsteps of the Springboks and our other national players by becoming true professionals in the career path they chose to pursue in future.”
The Boks for Books initiative was born out of a desire to make a difference in South Africa. Government identified education as a No 1 national priority, and with only 8% of the nation’s schools having functional libraries, SA Rugby opted to afford children the opportunity to learn how to read.
Mrs Maku was delighted about the opportunities the Boks for Books library offered the learners and the surrounding community and said: “It is a dream come true and an achievement of one of our goals which will enhance quality teaching and learning at our school.
“This will motivate leaners to enquire knowledge and gain more reading skills. The exposure to this facility will enable our learners to perform at their optimal level.
“On behalf of the school, staff, parents and the entire community, we would to express our sincere gratitude to SA Rugby and the Springboks for this great investment.”
SA Rugby’s six other Boks for Books libraries are housed at the Gcobani Higher Primary School in Mdantsane, Kwamanzini Primary School in the KwaNdengezi District in Pinetown, Sekwati Primary School in Soweto, Groenheuwel Primary School in Paarl, JJ Rhode Primary School in Elsenburg, Stellenbosch, and Moipone Primary School in Thaba‘Nchu, east of Bloemfontein.
