By: Motshabi Hoaeane
On 5 November, Hyundai, DP World & Motus Community Trust officially opened the doors to the new Erasmus Monareng Secondary School library in Vosloorus. The library gifted to the school is anticipated to balance out structural inequality, lift educational and reading comprehension standards, meanwhile inspiring more love towards a culture of reading at the school.This, through advanced learning technologies and resources, in addition to the books and support programs. Its handover underscores both Hyundai and DP World & Motus Community Trust’s commitment to promoting literacy through library initiatives and responsible corporate citizenry. The library’s opening was also part of Hyundai’s 25th anniversary week of celebrations, marking its dealership success since its full ownership in the year 2000.
Hyundai CEO, Stanley Anderson, during the handover emphasised to students the importance of reading and life-long learning and how this builds the capacity for individuals to bring their goals to fruition. “Believe in yourself, give yourself impressive goals in life, believe in yourself, believe in your vision,” he said to the learners of the school, emphasising that reading is something that will be useful across the span of life and all its aspects.
Averring this sentiment, Motus Secretary and Head of Legal Counsel Ntando Simelane said that libraries were meant to give students exposure to a vast world through the activation of their minds and improvement of their reading capacity. “Our approach is scientific, it’s not just informed by proposed solutions, but more by data received from the school,” he said. He also mentioned that the community trust’s efforts to ensure sustainable gdevelopment were measured and tracked through structured practices integrated into the school that will help track improvement of the students.
Erasmus Monareng Acting Principal, Mbongiseni Hadebe, emphasised that the library would place its priorities in grade eight and nine foundation phase learners to help them leapfrog reading developmental challenges. “The library will also help the school to recognise and implement instructional and behavioural change in the students” he said. Asserting that it will bring about positive overall transformation, as well as also help to track improvement of learners that struggle with reading and comprehension.
South African storytelling legend and arts & Heritage thespian Gcina Mhlope, who has been running the Nozincwadi Mother of Books literacy campaigns for twenty-four years across Africa and the world, sealed this library initiative with a guest performance that weaved together the importance of books in creating leaders, enlivening with her signature storytelling and the motto “readers today leaders tomorrow!” which was echoed by students with a loud uproar as she took the stage.
Students at the school gratefully embraced the opening of the library, leading the day’s events with stirring renditions of song and cultural performances that scaffolded every juncture of the day’s programme.The library at Erasmus Monareng is the twenty-third one Hyundai has gifted to schools.
