Kronendal Primary and Valley Pre-Primary celebrate Literacy Month with engaging book sale

Kronendal Primary and Valley Pre-Primary have kicked off Literacy Month with a celebration of books, reading and giving back - and they did it in style.

The schools hosted a special book sale in the school library, allowing learners and families to pick up some new reading material while supporting an important cause.

All proceeds from the sale will go towards Help the Rural Child, an initiative dedicated to supporting children in rural communities through the Goedgedacht Trust.

Literacy Month is about encouraging a love of reading and highlighting the importance of literacy in giving children the tools they need to learn, communicate and unlock future opportunities. It is also a chance to remind young readers that books can open doors to new worlds, ideas and possibilities.

And what better way to start than by putting books directly into the hands of children?

From one bookshop to a growing movement

The story behind Help the Rural Child is just as inspiring.

The charity’s roots stretch back to 1998, when Catholic Welfare and Development (CWD) was looking for new ways to generate income and opened a second-hand bookshop in Mowbray.

The shop opened its doors on 1 July 1998, with a manager and just 12 volunteers. It quickly grew, eventually expanding across the building.

In 2006, Help the Rural Child Trust became independent from CWD, with its focus turning towards supporting rural children through the Goedgedacht Trust. A second shop followed in 2007, selling clothing and bric-a-brac.

Today, the initiative has grown into seven retail shops, a mobile bookshop and an online children's bookshop.

From a humble second-hand bookshop to a growing network helping children, the message remains simple: a book can be more than something you read - it can be a way of giving back.