Literacy hour at the Rotary eClub of the Karoo brings new hope to Galeshewe learners
Education is a powerful tool for upliftment, and the Rotary eClub of the Karoo Region is harnessing it through its “Reading Hour” literacy project in Galeshewe.
Located in the heart of Kimberley’s historic township area near the Mayibuye Uprising Precinct, the initiative takes place at the Galeshewe Youth Network offices, where a bright new prefabricated classroom now houses eager young readers.
A community responds to a national challenge
Grade 4 literacy levels in South Africa remain deeply concerning. Around 78 percent of learners struggle to read with comprehension by Grade 4, according to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) 2021 report.
Both local educationalists and the Rotary eClub recognised that without strong reading foundations, children face ongoing academic and social barriers.
How reading hour works
Every Reading Hour session lasts one hour and features small groups of 5–10 learners from Grade 1 to Grade 7. Participating volunteers include local Rotarians, Interactors from nearby schools, university Rotaractors, and community members. They guide learners through engaging storybooks and encourage discussion, fostering critical thinking and a lifelong love of reading.
Over 84 unique storybooks (with five copies each) are available for Grade 1–3, while Grades 4–7 enjoy 134 different titles. Donations of gently used children’s books are welcomed, as the eClub works to expand the library to reach even more learners.
Partnerships that strengthen service
The Rotary eClub of the Karoo Region is an online‑only club linked to the Rotary Club of Kimberley. It works in close collaboration with the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek in Maryland, USA, securing grants that support its many upliftment programmes.
These include bicycle resource centres, menstrual health distribution, and gender‑based violence prevention campaigns - all focused on sustainable transformation across Galeshewe and the broader Northern Cape.
Sustainable outcomes and measurable return on investment
Reading Hour is designed not just as a short‑term intervention but as a sustainable foundation for improved learning outcomes. The visible improvements in comprehension, growing confidence among learners, and increased engagement in local schools attest to the positive return on investment.
Looking ahead
The eClub invites the community to support the initiative through book donations or volunteering. Each new title donated helps broaden the library’s reach, opening doors for more young learners in Grades 1–7.
As more storybooks fill the shelves and more eager voices fill the hall each Reading Hour, the Rotary eClub of the Karoo Region continues to uplift hearts and minds, one hour, one page, one learner at a time.
