A total of 2 821 learners from 13 predominantly rural primary schools in Vhembe benefited from the Rally to Read project, which donated educational material to the value of R673 000 during the weekend.

The benefiting schools are: Luheni, Maraxwe, Mbahela, Mboneni, Mudzidzidzi, Mutshenzheni, Thenzheni, Tshathovhela, Tshavhadinda, Tshidzivhe, Tshikosi, Tshilungwi and Vhutalu Primary Schools.

The Rally to Read takes place for the 9th time this year. Since 1998, the programme has invested nearly R21m in improving the literacy levels of young children in remote, rural schools of South Africa and it continues to reach more children and teachers each year. Approximately 90 sponsors (nationally) have contributed R4 million to fund this year’s national programme. Some 420 off-road vehicles delivered R2,5 million worth of books to 133 schools country-wide.

The first Rally to Read in Limpopo Province took place in 2 000. In that year, the project commenced working with 13 schools situated within the Sekhukhune / Penge / Taung area. The sponsors for the Limpopo rally are Cato Research South Africa, Daimler Chrysler, Exclusive Books, FNB Commercial, Game Discount World, IMS Industrial Products, Mones Michaels Trust, Nokia, Rand Merchant Bank, Sasol Limited, Standard Bank, Telkom SA, Total Facilities Management, McCarthy Motor Holdings, Toyota SA, Wesbank and Zenex Foundation.

A joint function to donate educational material to Tshathovhela and Tshavhandida Primary Schools took place at Dzimauli, outside Tshilamab, on Saturday. Learners were presented with text books, chalk boards, files, pens, crayons, pencils, calculators, water bottles, tennis, netball and soccer balls, hats, mobile desks and sweets.

The organizer of the Limpopo rally, who is also the Chairman of McCarthy Motor Holdings, Brand Pretorius, said the gifts presented to the learners will last forever.

“These educational materials will help them to develop wings to fly to the new world of knowledge. All children deserve to have a bright future and it is only through books that we can realize it. Books are the keys to unlock the future.”

Responding on behalf of the two schools, veteran educator, Azwidohwi Makwarela thanked the sponsors for making such a valuable donation which will help in the educational development of rural kids. He promised that the schools will work hard with the parents and different stakeholders for the future of the children.

“We hope our partnership will grow stronger and stronger for the benefit of our children. We lack words for our sponsors because what they did to us is unforgettable. Thank you once more…”