World Read Aloud Day (WRAD), which is observed on 3 February, is dedicated to raising awareness about the value of vocal reading and sharing stories as well as advocating for literacy as a human right. WRAD was founded in 2010 by LitWorld, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the power of reading.
Read Educational Trust, founded in 1979, is a non-profit organisation that works extensively in the education and literacy sectors in South Africa.
They collaborate with the Department of Basic Education to bring teacher training and literacy initiatives to schools.
To mark the occasion, reading champions at schools will celebrate by using resources provided by a WhatsApp chatbot linked to Nal’ibali (isiXhosa for “here’s the story”) – a national reading-for-enjoyment initiative aimed at igniting children’s potential through storytelling and reading.
This year the NGO is commemorating the occasion with a brand-new special narrative, Mabel Mensa’s A Party In The Park.
The book has been translated into all 11 official languages of South Africa as well as six other languages, including Swahili, Shona, French, Chichewa, Portuguese and Lingala to serve the country’s more than 2 million foreign children nationals.
Reading aloud promotes children’s self-esteem, helps them manage better with anxiety, improves their memory, and widens their horizons. It aids in the development of a healthy brain, which is essential for future success in school and beyond.
