Community H.E.A.R.T. Recognised

The British High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. Anne Grant together with Denis Goldberg, Hon. President of Community H.E.A.R.T., at the inauguration of a mobile library given by international donors to the Gauteng Department of Education Library Service. Denis was asked to cut the ribbon in recognition of the more than a million books sent to South Africa by Community H.E.A.R.T.

The event also saw the Minister of Education, Professor Kader Asmal, present prizes to school learners who had participated in a competition related to the publishing of the 100 best books written by writers from Africa. The event took place at the Pretoria Art Museum on 1 August 2003.

Much was made of our contribution to education in South Africa. Orangia Huygens, Director of the Library Service, and Mona Niemand who runs the Donated Books Project, told Denis that the latest container load of books was cleared and distributed to over 120 schools in about three weeks. Educators find the books we send relevant to the learners' needs and ask for more. Indeed, they can handle another container at any time we are ready to send it. Teachers came to me to say that they had missed out because they could not get to the library early enough and please send more books.

A Gauteng Regional Education Director also thanked us for the books, computers and science equipment we had sent to provide resources for a group of six secondary schools in Soweto.

Every serious commentator speaks of the need for improved education in South Africa as a necessary condition for economic growth and development. Community H.E.A.R.T. is frequently asked to continue with our projects.

I explained to those present how privileged I was to have had the support of British children, parents and teachers, trade unions, religious groups and individuals, and the Co-op that has made its food stores available as collection points all over Britain. This was greeted with loud applause. There were oohs and ahs when I explained that one million books standing next to each other would fill a shelf 10 kilometers long!

I appeal to all of you in Britain to continue this really magnificent project.

PHOTOGRAPH: Jacoline Prinsloo, Pretoria News