Reading is KWAAI

01/08/2025

Today 1 August 2025 is the 2nd anniversary of the 1st ever “Reading is Kwaai” Library session. 2 years old!

A huge thank you to all those who have supported Reading is Kwaai in so many ways, whether through donating books, covering books with plastic, supplying labels, donating money, designing certificates, supporting RiK events, helping with all of the admin, as well as just being interested and supportive.

We now stand at over 3000 books borrowed. Some committed students are close to or in one or two cases have already read 50 books. This year’s borrowed books are now all on Excel spreadsheets so eventually, if they wish, I will be able to give each student a list of the books they have read during their high school career.
The biggest single need that “Reading is Kwaai” has now relates to humans. There are enough books to divide the stock and have a second library happening on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Imagine 3 more schools having access to books! Surely there are people out there who have 1 morning a week free, have an interest in and connection to teenagers and are enthusiastic about reading? Working in a pair or even a triple would make it possibly less daunting. Please contact me, even if you want to come to one of the sessions to see what it is all about.

This is all big-picture so let me end with a story from yesterday’s session. I was chatting to a Grade 10 student at one of the schools and she told me that she doesn't go to her nearest public library anymore because "there is too much shooting near there now". She wants to read as many books from the library as possible in the time she is still in school. Yesterday she took home 4 books and is quite sure she will finish them by next Thursday. We shook on a ‘deal’ that if she does I will bring her a chocolate (biscuit is her flavour) next week. Judging by her enthusiasm and delight, I think she will have a chocolate next week.

We are very excited about a rewarding 3rd year ahead for "Reading is Kwaai"!

20/05/2025

Reading is Kwaai will be on Cape Talk at 10 am tomorrow (Wednesday). I'm sure there will be a recording afterwards if you can't make it.

15/05/2025

Morning everyone Here is a link to a News24 feature on Reading is Kwaai.

Mortley launched his “Reading Is Kwaai” mobile library in 2023 when he discovered that many of the children he taught did not have ...

01/05/2025

29/04/2025

Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce to you our Reading is KWAAI donations box! Some of you might be familiar with her friendly face by now.

She resides at Exclusive Books, Cavendish. She's clearly marked and well cared for 😊 So, if you're ever wondering where to donate your wonderful books, you know where to find her (for now).

I'm feeling like we need a name for her - any suggestions? 😄

For any questions or requests, please feel free to message us directly, or leave a comment on one of our posts and we'll get back to you.

Thanking you always 📚

16/04/2025

How would you describe the perfect Saturday morning? I'll go first - kicking the day off with the Reading is KWAAI Awards ceremony at Exclusive Books Cavendish, followed by brunch 😉 ha!

Absolutely blown away by the turnout at Saturday's Awards ceremony. The energy in the room was palpable, and there was a bum on every seat! In fact, we needed to unpack more seats to accommodate our audience! Unreal!

We cannot thank you enough for your generous support - we couldn't have done it without all those involved 💛 Thank you so much 🙏🏽

Massive shoutout to Exclusive Books Cavendish for hosting us, what a beautiful venue to host our guests.

Thank you. Until next time 📚

09/04/2025

Evening everyone

Just a reminder that the "READING is KWAAI" 2024 Book Awards will be taking place at Exclusive Books, Cavendish this Saturday 12 April, starting at 9 am. Those who have read the most books in each grade at each school where the mobile library operates will be honoured and celebrated with certificates and vouchers - and the really good news is that News24 will be there to film it!.

It is not too late to contribute towards the expense of the vouchers. Below are the READING is KWAAI bank details.

Account name: Reading is KWAAI
Bank: Standard Bank
Account Number: 10206271911
Account type: Current Account
Branch: Johannesburg
Branch Code: 000205
Branch code (electronic payments): 051001

You are most welcome to join us!

Warm wishes
Nigel

15/03/2025

Hello everyone

One of the MOST satisfying and rewarding aspects of Reading is Kwaai has been seeing students thrive and flourish in leaps and bounds in terms of their reading. Quite a few students are now borrowing a book per week, where they manage (most weeks) to return the book they have read and jump head-first into their next book.

This would simply not have been possible for them without access to the mobile library every week so a big thank you to all of you who in whatever way have helped to make this possible.

I am looking to reward those students in terms of the number of books read and to inspire others to read even more. The wonder and delight as they devour their next book is glorious to watch. I have counted through all the books borrowed during 2024 and my best student managed 36 books! Each student who has reached a certain number will receive a certificate in their school assembly and then (but wait, there's more!!!) the top 2 in each grade will be invited to a prizegiving, hosted by Exclusive Books Cavendish, where they will be awarded book vouchers so that they can buy their very own books! How exciting!

"How can I help?" I hear you say. Good question! Exclusives have not only donated their venue but also something towards the gift vouchers. (Remember 2 per grade at 3 schools is 24 students - no Matrics from last year.) I am going to need some financial contributions to make this possible. This can be done one of two ways. If you live near EB Cavendish you are more than welcome to buy a gift voucher of any amount and tell whoever is helping you it is for Reading is Kwaai. They will add it to the running total. Or you can donate to the Reading is Kwaai Bank Account and label it 'book voucher'.

Account name: Reading is KWAAI
Bank: Standard Bank
Account Number: 10206271911
Account type: Current Account
Branch: Johannesburg
Branch Code: 000205
Branch code (electronic payments): 051001

This event will happen on Saturday 12 April, probably at 9 am. You are more than welcome to attend. I think it will be a very rewarding morning, in so many ways.

Thank you in advance for your help in making this happen.