DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette is calling on the Helderberg community to help put books into the hands of children who need them most.

The newspaper is proud to announce the launch of its first-ever Readers are Leaders campaign, a community-driven initiative running from August to October that aims to build a library at a deserving school or educare centre in the basin.

The concept is simple but powerful: readers nominate a school or educare centre in need of a library, the community rallies behind the cause by donating children’s books, and local businesses lend their support through contributions. At the end of October the DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette team will roll up their sleeves and build a fully stocked library at the winning school.

“We believe our responsibility goes beyond reporting the news, we must be part of shaping the future,” says editorial publisher Tasmin Cupido. “Literacy is the foundation on which every child’s future is built, and right now, too many children are being left behind because they simply don’t have access to books. Readers are Leaders is our way of turning that around.”

Very urgent need

The need could not be more urgent. Statistics show 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read with comprehension, a stark reminder that the country’s literacy crisis is not an abstract problem but a reality in classrooms daily.

Many schools do not have functioning libraries; in some cases libraries exist in name only; rooms without books, without a librarian and without the resources to ignite a love of reading in the children. For these children, a library is not a luxury. It is a gateway to a brighter future.

The Readers are Leaders campaign is built on the belief that change starts with ordinary people doing extraordinary things together. “We’ve seen time and again what happens when a community comes together around a shared goal. A school library is more than a room full of books; it’s a symbol of hope, a place where a child can discover that they matter and that their future is worth investing in.”

Donate old children’s books

So, dust the children’s books your own family has outgrown and donate them to the cause. Every book, from picture books for toddlers to chapter books for young readers, will find a new home and a new pair of eager hands.

Local companies can get involved through donations, whether by funding bookshelves, contributing towards new books or sponsoring paint, every contribution brings the vision closer to reality.

To nominate a worthy school, send your motivation as to why you believe the school should be selected. The most deserving nomination will be selected and the ‘Mail team will build a library on-site at the end of October.

• Donations can be dropped off at the newspaper’s office at 37 Mynhardt Street, Gants Centre, or collection can be arranged by calling Cupido on 021 841 4261.

• For more information on the campaign or to nominate a school, send an email to districtmailhelderberg@novusmedia.co.za or tasmin.cupido@novusmedia.co.za.