KRISTIN ENGEL
Cape Town - The Siyazana Youth Development Fund (YDF) and Cape Flats Stories are appealing for assistance from the public to make the Parkwood community library a reality.
The two organisations have partnered with Parkwood resident, Alletta Frans, to upgrade her “house library” to a fully-functional community-based library.
Frans also runs a feeding scheme in the area.
Frans said that when she worked as a teacher she noticed the problem children from her community had with reading and writing and this led to her starting the library three years ago. Despite the lack of a building and resources, a number of children and adults make use of the facility.
“For me it was a dream to encourage reading in this way and allow people the opportunity to read in their own community without having to travel all the way to Grassy Park or Plumstead Library,” she said.
Stanley Jacobs from the Cape Flats Stories said the Parkwood community’s need for a library had gone unfulfilled for long enough.
Lead volunteer at Siyazana YDF Ian Miller said the organisation connected with Frans and her team during their “Help to Read” Project (in which it distributed food, masks and hand sanitiser during Level 5 of Covid-19) and was appalled by the conditions in which Frans had to operate because she had no funders or any constant supply line of food or books.
“Many times children sat in the rain or sun just to get a meal or an opportunity to get access to a book.
“Sadly donations for the project have come in slowly, with us not even reaching our R1 500 mark (target of R40 000). We however believe we will reach our target and finish this project before the heart of winter hits us. The upgrade will ensure that children learn and read in a suitable child-friendly environment, safe from the elements of nature and surrounding areas.” Miller said.
Anyone interested in donating towards or getting involved in the ‘Parkwood Gemeenskap Biblioteek’ can contact Miller on 082 757 5609.
Cape Argus