In many public schools across South Africa, the shelves once filled with books now stand empty. Budget constraints and resource shortages have forced the closure of libraries, leaving young minds without the magic of storytelling and the joy of exploration, says SPAR. 

With the ability to read, a child develops a potential for a great future and prospects. Barriers to learning drop away, and the path to a successful brighter career and more stable future becomes a reality.

"But instead, we're seeing reduced literacy levels in primary schools across the country, which means limited access to knowledge and opportunities for growth," says Mpudi Maubane, national PR, communications and sponsorship manager at The SPAR Group.

"It is for this reason that The SPAR Group proactively forges partnerships with NGOs that focus on addressing issues in the delivery of education. We also steadfastly support the education efforts of our independent SPAR retailers within their own communities," adds Maubane.

"An example of this is the Star Retailers Foundation, launched in 2021 by SPAR retailer Serena Jagadasan Store Owner of SUPERSPAR Starwood in Durban and its Dream Big Little Reader programme," Maubane says. 

Focussed on building a literate South Africa, the programme aims to transform lives by constructing libraries in public schools across KwaZulu-Natal, where — due to a lack of resources and funding cutbacks — libraries have been closed and librarians removed.

Currently, eight SPAR stores are actively engaged on this programme in their communities, striving to make this vision a reality, says the group.

"Through the programme, we are committed to rebuilding and refurbishing under-resourced government school libraries, which can take up to three months per project. We also focus our efforts on instilling a culture of reading in foundation-phase learners," says Jagadasan.

"Improving literacy levels is achieved by providing age-appropriate, grade-specific, relevant and exciting books to help promote reading as a life-long tool," Jagadasan adds.

To date, more than 3 000 children have been assisted and 10 libraries built, each containing up to 3 000 books from donations of about 22 500 books, says SPAR.

"Literacy is the foundation of education and the key to unlocking a brighter future for individuals and societies. It is a fundamental human right and an essential tool for personal empowerment, economic development and social progress," adds Jagadasan.

According to SPAR, other successes of the programme over the past three years include:

  • Rydalvale Primary School, where the first library was built, as well as the launch of reading programmes to help reduce the deficit between chronological ages and reading ages
  • Redfern Primary, where peer assistance was introduced so that literate children can help those struggling with reading, and
  • Zara Academy of Learning, where the foundation refurbished a special needs classroom with books and specialised sensory equipment.

Through the programme, SPAR says that it has also installed libraries at:

  • Swanvale Primary serving 450 learners
  • Brailsford Primary, home to 800 learners
  • Clayridge Primary for 451 learners, and
  • Clayhaven Primary with a learners roll of 389. 

"Besides supporting retailer-led initiatives in communities across the country, The SPAR Group actively invests in education initiatives through its various corporate social investment programmes. In 2023, the company invested into various education projects — with the aim of igniting the spark of learning for all," says Maubane.

"With 62 years in South Africa, The SPAR Group is honoured to be able to not only uplift our entrepreneur retailers but also the lives of those in the communities that our member stores serve. Together we are writing a story of hope that aims to enable every child with the opportunity to read, that fills hungry stomachs and champions women's issues," adds Maubane. 

The SPAR Group says that in addition, SUPERSPAR Starwood offers cricket coaching to eight of the 10 schools where they built libraries. Coaching takes place four times a week and targets young boys in cricket at schools.

Other than R2.236-million used to build the libraries, they spend closer to R15 000 per month on cricket coaching. SUPERSPAR Starwood's ultimate end goal is to facilitate bursaries for top performing learners where they sponsored libraries, the group concludes.

For more information, visit www.spar.co.za. You can also follow the SPAR Group on Facebook.

*Image courtesy of contributor