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News & Articles

Here you will find Nal'ibali's latest news and updates. 

News & Articles

Nali'Bali in the media

Due to the uncertainty of the 2020 academic year, many parents are anxious that their children are falling behind with their schoolwork and have taken it upon themselves to homeschool their children as best they can until it is safe to send their children back to school. It is therefore understandable that parents are feeling overwhelmed. However, the good news is that school is...
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This month Nal’ibali – South Africa’s reading-for-enjoyment campaign – is launching a Siswati edition of its popular bilingual newspaper story supplement for children and their caregivers. Previously available in eight different official-language combinations, the new addition of Siswati is part of Nal’ibali’s vision to ensure that every child in South Africa has access to good-quality leisure-reading materials in their mother tongue. “Stories help develop children’s...
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“Zinhle loved skipping in the playground with her friends Sindi and Zongi. Just one thing worried her...”  This is how the story Hair Magic by Mbali Kgame begins and is just one of hundreds of stories that the Nal’ibali team has published in different official South African languages over the past eight years. Now, in a bid to provide more low-cost access to free and...
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Xhakaza is an avid educationalist and has committed her life to solving complex social problems. She believes education is one of the most powerful ways through which people can be uplifted from poverty. Having recently completed her MBA from the University of Pretoria's business school, Gordon Institute of Business Science, Xhakaza is excited to use business principles to solve social problems. She joins Nal’ibali –...
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Locking in With Stories

Posted on
14 April 2020
During the lockdown period of the COVID19, many South African parents and caregivers have been left feeling worried and confused. The nationally imposed lockdown means that individuals are required to stay at home for their own and others’ safety. For both children and adults, it is normal to experience a range of emotions about it – fear, anxiety, loneliness, boredom, sadness, and even anger....
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With schools and preschools closed, and families spending more time at home to help slow the spread of the coronavirus, many caregivers will be wondering what they can do to keep their children occupied, entertained and learning. To help them, Nal’ibali – the national reading-for-enjoyment campaign – has put together a free support package with story and activity guides, audio and written stories and...
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It was Human Rights day on Saturday 21 March, and what better way for young people to commemorate it in these difficult times when they are stuck at home than to enter an online writing challenge launched by FunDza Literacy Trust? FunDza is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to growing a culture of reading for pleasure and writing for meaning among South Africa's youth. FunDza's...
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Important COVID-19 Announcement

Posted on
19 March 2020
Nalibali Funda leaders
Due to the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa, Nal'ibali has cancelled all planned events, reading clubs, school visits and training sessions until schools and educares reopen. We urge you to take the same precautions and temporarily stop your reading club activities until they are safe to resume! Why is Nal'ibali taking these measures? Our government has closed all South African schools and preschools until 14...
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As the new year starts, much of South Africa’s focus has been on education, with matric results being announced and scores of children starting grade 1. However, given the state of the education system in South Africa, one might ask what determines success for children who start school and then stay in school until passing their matric certificate 12 years later? The ability to...
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Image courtesy of Joburg Libraries
The DG Murray Trust calls on mobile network operators to urgently zero-rate the services of all public benefit organisations (PBOs) that provide digital content for early learning and education. In this way, preschool and schooling will be able to continue to some extent, reaching children on cellphones in their own homes. This is crucial, given the closure of early childhood development centres and schools.  Image courtesy...
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