Durban - A donation of books was like finding a nugget of gold, according to a teacher at a Durban school that has just received a literary boost, thanks to a local businessman.
Kevin le Roux, who teaches English at Rossburgh High School, said the books donated by Durban businessman Vivian Reddy would go a long way to helping return the ex-model C school to it’s former glory.
Ninety-five books were donated as part of a Daily News initiative to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday on Thursday.
The 850 pupils would be able to enjoy brand new books this Mandela Day, said Le Roux, whose idea it was to have the school’s library re-opened. It had been closed to make way for an exam venue and the books were left to collect dust in a small room.
He presented the idea in 2011 to then newly appointed school principal, Moosa Khan, who “ran with it”.
Le Roux said the school’s slide had been due to a lack of funds.
“He (Khan) led a drive to collect school fees so that parents too were invested in the school and their children’s future,” he said.
“They say a new broom sweeps clean, and that he did. He came with new ideas and was so energetic, it was contagious,” said Le Roux.
Picking out new books at a bookshop in La Lucia Mall on Wednesday, school librarian, Nozipho Meyiwa, was as starry eyed as the children. She said because of the limited choice in books, pupils only visited the library to look at textbooks.
Produce
“They would come into the library and all wait for the computer to google something, then produce the same work,” she said.
Le Roux said: “We have a long way to go before the literacy level gets to where it needs to be but we are slowly getting there. These books will broaden the children’s focus and they will realise there is a whole world beyond parties.
“Mandela achieved magnificent things with limited resources in jail for 27 years. I always tell my kids that what they can achieve with books and information at their fingertips is unthinkable.”
Reddy said he answered the Mandela Day book call by the Daily News on Wednesday – he was the first to do so – because he, too, wanted to invest in the future of the country’s children.
“Giving back is a lesson I learned from Nelson Mandela. Through his inspiration, I learned to share and uplift lives.”
Reddy will be spending Mandela Day assisting schools around the province.
This donation was especially meaningful to him, he said, because reading helped broaden his mind, which contributed to his success, despite not having a formal tertiary qualification.
“Reading equips one to tackle life head on,” said Reddy.
Daily News