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GROWING THE LOVE FOR STORIES & READING

Who’s Ready to Explore?

Dive into fun resources, tools and communities to spark a love of reading.

Kids’ Corner

Dive into a world of stories, games and activities! Explore More >

Teaching Toolkit

Empowering young minds with our resources! Explore More >

Supporters’ Hub

Discover how your generosity can make a difference! Explore More >

Parents’ Place

Discover tips, tools and fun ideas to support your little reader! Explore More >

Reading CLub

Build your skills with expert resources and exciting workshops! Explore More >

Training Hub

Join the adventure with books, buddies and reading fun! Explore More >

Stories to Read

Discover amazing stories full of Africa’s colours and magic!

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Stories to Listen To

Listen to amazing audio stories from Africa’s bold and beautiful culture!

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Choose language

Rabbit learns to forgive

The hidden talent

Sports Day

Village of the cruel king

The wizard’s gift

Why porcupines search for food at night

Stories to Watch

Watch videos of wonderful stories being told!

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Something special

Wolf’s Supper

Jabu’s Diary

Anything can happen

The Storyteller of Ham

What does an angel look like?

Activity Sheets & Printables:

Unleash your imagination with exciting printables and activities!

Reading Activities
Word Activities
Colouring Printables
Storytelling Playing Cards
Posters
Here’s the Story:

Inspiring a Love for Reading

Nal’ibali (isiXhosa for “here’s the story”) is South Africa’s national reading-for-enjoyment campaign, inspiring children aged 0–12 to love reading stories in all South African languages. By promoting home languages, Nal’ibali helps children build literacy skills and develop a lifelong reading culture. Adults play a key role in nurturing this love of stories and supporting children’s growth.

Learn more

Our Campaigns

This is where Nal’ibali’s work on the ground comes to life, bringing the love of stories to children all over the country.

World Read Aloud Day

We celebrate World Read Aloud Day every year by sharing a special story in all 12 SA language…

Literacy Month

Literacy Day and Heritage Month are celebrated in September. Each year, Nal’ibali celebrates the rich diversity of culture in South Africa by reawakening a love of African stories.

World Book Day

Nal’ibali uses Book Day to highlight the importance of access to literacy materials in the mother tongue, and to distribute books across South Africa.

Mandela Month

During Mandela Month, Nal’ibali hosts reading-aloud sessions and play-based learning activities, and distributes reading materials together with partners across nine South African provinces.

Drop Everything and Read

Nal’ibali sees D.E.A.R as an opportunity to foster a culture of reading for enjoyment at schools, home, preschool and in communities…

Nal’ibali Supplement Month

June is Nal’ibali Newspaper Supplement Month. During the month, Nal’ibali celebrates the impact that the Nal’ibali bilingual…

Men’s Literacy Imbizo

This platform provides a space where men can engage in issues affecting them as reading role models…

International Mother Language Day

Nal’ibali uses Mother Language Day to raise awareness about the importance of all 12 South African languages in literacy development.

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Latest news

Celebrating Leadership That Changes Lives

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Latest news

A Global Literacy Leader Recognised

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Latest news

Nal’ibali Calls for Original Children’s Stories in Indigenous Languages

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Latest news

Nal’ibali Promotes Family Literacy and Reading for Enjoyment on International Day of Families

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Inspiration in Action

Catch our latest moments, stories and inspiration straight from Instagram.

@nalibalisa
Nal'ibali

@nalibalisa

Nal'ibali is a reading-for-enjoyment campaign that sparks children's potential through storytelling and reading.
  • The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
  • Bright minds. Busy hands. Endless possibilities. Through play, children are building more than colourful creations. They’re strengthening problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork, and confidence, one block at a time. Every playful learning moment lays another brick in the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay
  • Every child deserves easy access to books. This Mandela Day, Xolelwa Baleni of the Nyandeni ECD Forum created a visible, child-friendly reading corner where books are always within reach, giving children more opportunities to read, explore stories and develop a love of reading. The result? A day filled with joyful storytime, eager young readers and a reading space that will continue to inspire children long after Mandela Day.
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The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
@nalibalisa
@nalibalisa
•
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The stories may have ended, but the imagination kept growing. At Charles Duna Primary School in New Brighton, children expressed the stories they heard through drawings and colourful creations in their Nal’ibali activity books. Each page became a space for creativity, self-expression, and the confidence to tell their own stories. Long after Mandela Day, these moments remind us that when children are given the opportunity to read, imagine, and create, they begin to see endless possibilities for themselves. #MandelaDay #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #ReadingForEnjoyment
4 hours ago
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@nalibalisa
@nalibalisa
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7 hours ago
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2/4
Bright minds. Busy hands. Endless possibilities. Through play, children are building more than colourful creations. They’re strengthening problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork, and confidence, one block at a time. Every playful learning moment lays another brick in the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay
@nalibalisa
@nalibalisa
•
Follow
Bright minds. Busy hands. Endless possibilities. Through play, children are building more than colourful creations. They’re strengthening problem-solving skills, creativity, teamwork, and confidence, one block at a time. Every playful learning moment lays another brick in the foundation for a lifelong love of learning. #Nalibali #ItStartsWithAStory #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #LearningThroughPlay
11 hours ago
View on Instagram |
3/4
Every child deserves easy access to books. This Mandela Day, Xolelwa Baleni of the Nyandeni ECD Forum created a visible, child-friendly reading corner where books are always within reach, giving children more opportunities to read, explore stories and develop a love of reading. The result? A day filled with joyful storytime, eager young readers and a reading space that will continue to inspire children long after Mandela Day.
Every child deserves easy access to books. This Mandela Day, Xolelwa Baleni of the Nyandeni ECD Forum created a visible, child-friendly reading corner where books are always within reach, giving children more opportunities to read, explore stories and develop a love of reading. The result? A day filled with joyful storytime, eager young readers and a reading space that will continue to inspire children long after Mandela Day.
@nalibalisa
@nalibalisa
•
Follow
Every child deserves easy access to books. This Mandela Day, Xolelwa Baleni of the Nyandeni ECD Forum created a visible, child-friendly reading corner where books are always within reach, giving children more opportunities to read, explore stories and develop a love of reading. The result? A day filled with joyful storytime, eager young readers and a reading space that will continue to inspire children long after Mandela Day.
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
4/4

Become a Hero for Literacy

Join Nal’ibali as a volunteer and help spark a lifelong love of reading in children. Together, we can build a brighter future—one story at a time.

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Call for Indigenous Language Stories

Nal’ibali is calling on writers to submit new, original children’s stories in indigenous African languages!

Stories in indigenous South African languages give more children access to stories in their mother tongue.

  • Top story for each langauge receives R3000 prize. Runner-up story for each language receives R1800 prize. Submissions close on 31st August 2026.

(Stories in English and Afrikaans may also be submitted We are not offering prizes for them because we want to encourage writing in indigenous African languages during this campaign. Your contributions are always highly appreciated!)