A new initiative to get more children, in Delft, to read is proving to be fruitful.
The Delft Public Library’s manager, Ashley Lewis has decided to offer video gaming to children…however there’s a catch. They have to sign up as library members, and complete their school homework before they get to do so.
Ashley Lewis: “Our literacy level in the country is low. We have about 30-40 kids coming to the library every day. Everyone gets a chance to play. We cater to all ages.” pic.twitter.com/IyJt4PsWy5
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And…the initiative has proven to be successful, as about 30 to 40 children are lining up, daily, for a chance to get their hands on the XBOX and PlayStation consoles.
The area is synonymous with high levels of crime and gangsterism. Lewis says the idea is to get more children off the streets.
“Our literacy level in the country is low. If you look at children who are in secondary school, they can’t even read. How do they matriculate? How many of them go through colleges? If we can start with this, at this young age, how many lives are we changing?” says Lewis.
He says the aim is to find news ways of unlocking a child’s potential.
“If I can get them off the streets, and into the library, an education space then I can get their minds to open up. (I want) to break that cycle, where they idolise the wrong people. Instead of idolising a gang leader, idolise Nelson Mandela. Idolise Mahatma Ghandi. Idolise Martin Luther-King, and see what they have done for their communities.”
The City of Cape Town‘s Community Services and Health mayco member, Patricia Van Der Ross says she hopes more libraries will adopt the same initiative.
“No child in this universe wants to just be left strolling outside, or be left to their own accord. Children want to be guided. If you have that heartbeat, and that passion, this is one way of getting that.”
The buzzing library is already looking at new ways of attracting even more folk, including methods of providing learning resources to adults.
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