Muizenberg Junior School’s head teacher, Dee Milford, says that the help2read program, which started its pilot Feb. 1st at Muizenberg Junior School, is already having widespread positive results. Teachers report that those students currently benefiting from the help2read scheme not only read better, but are also more confident, positive and sociable! Help2read arrived in SA in November of last year. They recruit and train volunteers, anyone who can read and write English and has two or three hours to spare each week, and place them in schools to help children read English.

Each volunteer helps at least one child for half an hour twice a week during the whole school year. They always help the same child, so that child gets priceless one-on-one attention for the entire school year. MJS head, Dee Milford, said today: “It’s truly amazing how quickly we’re seeing the positive effects of help2read on MJS’ students! They not only read better, they behave better, smile more, and are doing better in other, seemingly unrelated topics too!” Help2read’s Director, Marielle Moss, added “We always knew that children needed one-on-one care and support to progress with reading, but I never realised how quickly we’d see the results! It’s wonderful!

You have to understand that, less than two months ago, these kids hated reading…now they love it! Our volunteers feel so proud to be able to pass on their love of books, and I feel blessed to be a part of that too!” Literacy is a serious problem in South Africa. One in four adults is illiterate, and many children in schools are unable to read and write English. Imagine how hard life must be for those people who can’t read English: they’re frustrated every day by street signs, restaurant menus and posters, they’ll miss out on the entire world of computers, and they’re not as employable as people who can read and write English.

Help2read have found a simple solution to improve English literacy in South African schools: they make reading fun! Children who are falling behind are selected by their teachers and taken out of class twice a week for half an hour to focus on their reading. Help2read’s volunteers don’t actually teach at all, Help2read give them a big box of books and games, and the child can choose to spend the half hour however they like. They soon find a book they love, and within just six weeks, the ten MJS students currently receiving help2read’s support already read better, and have a more positive attitude towards books and reading!

Help2read want to be in at least four more schools by the end of this year, helping at least 100 children in 2006 and over 1,000 by the end of 2008. They're also planning to link up with Ikamva Labantu’s pre-school program, to send volunteers into township pre-schools and schools. They’re always looking for more volunteers, as well as tracking down new schools that want help2read. If you want to volunteer, donate children’s books, propose a school, or make a donation, contact Marielle on 021 789 0211, 072 221 0954, or email [email protected].