The South Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) invests in the First Ever Family Literacy Project in South Africa

Following on Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal call for 2001 to be dubbed " Year of Reading", the communities in the Katorus area grabbed the opportunity to try and better the future of their children. The South Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC) has taken an initiative to try and assist the Katlehong community by funding the SARCC Family Literacy Project.

On May 6 a first of its kind literacy project in South Africa will be launched helping the community of Katorus to realise a dream of giving their children a brighter future. As 120 children will benefit from this project.

The SARCC Family Literacy Project not only provide the children with books but it gets parents involved as facilitators to their children. The project focuses on pre-school children to eradicate illiteracy and also encourages parents to start reading to their children books that will develop their intellect at a tender age.

"We believe that by making parents in charge of helping their children develop their reading ability will help bridge the gap that has existed for so many years. Many parents have been subjected to the humiliation of not being able to read to their children. But this also put a strain on children as they were put on the reversal role as they could read and write." says Regina Mokgokong, Project Literacy Executive Client Relations.

"This not only contributed to parents feeling left behind by their progressive children but also gave the children a sense of superiority and this added to breakdown of family values." adds Mokgokong.

The initiator of the project in South Africa, Rosemarie Lindner, was struck by the similarities between the literacy situation of the Birmingham community and that of the many South Africans when she was introduced to the BookStart project in the United Kingdom. Armed with information and ideas when Lindner came back to South Africa she presented her finding to SARCC which grabbed the opportunity to empower the community.

"Although it has taken five months to get the show on the road, everything has fallen into place and we are now ready to roll. The SARCC Family Literacy project will be made a success by the involvement of everyone." said Rosemarie Lindner, Project Literacy Initiation Special Project Manager.

Selomane Maitisa SARCC`s Senior Communication Manager says" It is our firm belief at SARCC that illiteracy remains one or the major problems facing our country. Our support for this project demonstrate our commitment to see this scourge eradicated."