Boks for Books library gets ‘Legend-ary’ launch in Paarl
- SARU opens fourth library in disadvantaged community
- SA Rugby Legends involved in campaign to promote literacy in schools
- “This will make a difference” says triple-medium school Principal
Three Springbok legends assisted the South African Rugby Union (SARU) on Wednesday in opening the latest in its series of Boks for Books libraries in Paarl in the Western Cape.
SARU funded the provision of a fully-stocked library in a refurbished classroom at the Groenheuwel Primary School – the fourth library to be opened following similar initiatives in KZN, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
Dale Santon, Wayne Julies and Pieter Muller – who all appeared for the Boks in the 1990s and 2000s – were on hand with Bok Women’s player Denita Wentzel to assist Mark Alexander, SARU deputy president, in officially opening the library.
SARU refurbished an existing space and stocked it with furniture, bookshelves, computer equipment and books to assist the development of the school’s 1 251 triple-medium learners (Afrikaans, Xhosa and English).
“Thank you very much, SARU, for your involvement in education,” said Mr Desmond Ceasar, Principal of Groenheuwel Primary School. “Boks for Books is a brilliant plan to invest in our young people. The library will definitely help us improve our academic achievements.”
The Boks for Books project was launched by SARU in 2013 and was born out a desire to make a difference in South Africa’s civic life said Mr Mark Alexander, deputy president of SARU. He said that Government had identified education as a No 1 national priority and yet only 8% of the nation’s schools have functioning libraries.
“Springboks are made at school, which is why we identified education as the area of national life where we as rugby could make a difference,” he said.
“Literacy is critical to the future of our nation and by throwing the weight of the Springboks and SARU behind the provision of libraries we hope to spread that message far and wide.”
The opening was also attended by SARU Executive Council members and representatives of the Winelands District Education department, who worked with SARU and NGO, Blue Groove Africa, to identify a needy but deserving school.
“Literacy is the No 1 national priority, which is why this project is so important to us as an Education Department,” said Mr Juan Benjamin, District Director of Education for the Winelands. “Without literacy we are nothing and we have to thank SARU that this is a priority for them as well.”
Former Springbok Pieter Muller, of the South African Rugby Legends Association (SARLA), said: “As former Boks and former players we’re just delighted to be in a position to support initiatives like this and give something back.
“We do a lot of community as SARLA and we’re only too delighted to join with SARU and get behind what is a brilliant programme. You only had to look at the kids’ faces when they came in here for the first time to understand the impact that this is going to have.”
Previous Boks for Books libraries have been opened at Sekwati Primary School, Soweto; Kwamanzini Primary School KwaNdengezi District in Pinetown and the Gcobani Higher Primary School in Mdantsane.
(Photos by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Pieter Muller: Former Springbok centre and South African Rugby Legends Association Member, Pieter Muller, reads to a learner at the Groenheuwel Primary School in Paarl in the Western Cape in a new library provided by the South African Rugby Union as part of their Boks for Books CSI initiative.
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