Reaching out to build a library for a better future
Three organisations collaborated on a project to build a working library and resource centre for the Manzemba Village, on March 21.
The village is located 40 minutes from Thohoyandou, in Northern Limpopo.
The three organisations are Boksburg Lake Rotaract Club, Legacy Giving Aftercare and Mentoring Centre (LGAMC – a non-profit organisation in Manzemba Village) and the Phoenix Rover Crew, from Benoni.
According to Taryn Camden-Smith, Boksburg Lake Rotaract’s community outreach director, the primary goal of the project was to assist LGAMC’s homework club.
Since the establishment of the LGAMC after-school programmes, in excess of 150 rural learners (aged five to 19 years) now have a 100 per cent pass rate at school, where previously it was below 50 per cent.
More than 1 000 books and workbooks were donated to the project from the Rotary Humanitarian Centre (in Bedfordview), as well as by individual.
These books were all labelled and catalogued into a programme to be used as a working library.
“With the money raised by the Boksburg Lake Rotaract Club and a generous discount from First Dutch Brands we were able to secure a waterproof, lockable outdoor shed as the new home for all the books,” said Camden-Smith.
Additional activities on the day included making blackboards with the children, a community lunch and Scouting activities, as well as the donation of sports equipment and stationery.
“The library is already being well used and has proven to be an incredible asset to the amazing work of LGAMC,” said Camden-Smith.
Volunteers from Rotary who assisted were Taryn Camden-Smith, Jessica Jones, Thovhedzo Deon Mungudi, Damian Lahoud, Talitha Carney, Bronwyn Grover, Glen Jansen, Mukovhe Enos Mungadi, Jenna Redelinghuys, Darrel Camden-Smith, Robyn Carnie, Claire Smithard and Craig van der Bank.
Boksburg Lake Rotaract thanks all the sponsors involved: Oliver Keys, Michael Camden-Smith, First Dutch Brands, Boksburg Crafter’s Market and the Rotary Humanitarian Centre.
To get involved at any level in future projects, visit the Facebook pages of Boksburg Lake Rotaract, Legacy Giving Aftercare and Mentoring Centre (LGAMC) and Phoenix Rover Crew. – @IschkeBoksburg
