Five years ago, Book Village NPC began with a bold and beautiful vision: to use technology to bring volunteer tutors from around the world into overcrowded South African classrooms so that every child might have individual reading tuition at school.  What started as a small initiative grounded in hope and collaboration has grown into a ... <a title="Reflecting on 5 Years of Book Village NPC" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/reflecting-on-5-years-of-book-village-npc/" aria-label="Read more about Reflecting on 5 Years of Book Village NPC">Read more</a>

When people talk about impact, it is often measured in numbers. How many children are reached, how many books have been read, how many hours of tutoring have been completed. But some of the biggest changes we see at Book Village start small. Sometimes it starts with a child reading their first sentence. Other times, ... <a title="The Ripple Effect: How Small Moments Create Big Change" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/the-ripple-effect-how-small-moments-create-big-change/" aria-label="Read more about The Ripple Effect: How Small Moments Create Big Change">Read more</a>

Most of us read without even thinking about it – WhatsApp messages, road signs, food labels. It’s a skill so ingrained that we forget it’s something we once had to learn. But for millions of South African children, reading isn’t effortless. In fact, 81% of children in South Africa can’t read for meaning by the ... <a title="Reading for Meaning" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/reading-for-meaning/" aria-label="Read more about Reading for Meaning">Read more</a>

Children don’t just learn from instruction, they learn through connection. In the earliest stages of development, it’s often the relationships children form that shape how they learn, how they see themselves, and how confidently they approach the world around them. The simple act of being seen, heard and supported can make all the difference in ... <a title="How One-On-One Attention Changes Everything" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/how-one-on-one-attention-changes-everything/" aria-label="Read more about How One-On-One Attention Changes Everything">Read more</a>

The reading crisis in South Africa isn’t just about reading; it’s about access. Many schools in low-income communities are under-resourced, overcrowded, and overstretched. Class sizes often exceed 40, sometimes 60, learners per teacher and it’s not uncommon for children to complete the foundation phase of school without ever having received one-on-one support in learning to ... <a title="Why Digital Tools are Revolutionising Literacy" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/why-digital-tools-are-revolutionising-literacy/" aria-label="Read more about Why Digital Tools are Revolutionising Literacy">Read more</a>

Last year while working with Book Village, I also had the opportunity to complete my postgraduate studies, with one of my papers, ‘‘Children’s literature in Education,’ looking specifically at the impact of picturebooks on young readers. This paper was interesting in so many ways, but I particularly enjoyed how much it linked with our work ... <a title="The Importance of Pictures in Picturebooks" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/the-importance-of-pictures-in-picturebooks/" aria-label="Read more about The Importance of Pictures in Picturebooks">Read more</a>

Gibbs (2006) states that “Teaching and Learning are about meaningful connections.” One of the most special parts of Book Village is that we get to see the impact on our students of having adults that are completely invested in their learning and success. Most of our students come from classrooms that are oversized and under-resourced. ... <a title="How to Build Connections in Reading Sessions" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/how-to-build-connections-in-reading-sessions/" aria-label="Read more about How to Build Connections in Reading Sessions">Read more</a>

I have been reflecting on my time working with Book Village now that I am back in New Zealand and preparing to be a classroom teacher again. Being in South Africa and working with Book Village for most of 2023 has impacted me in so many ways. I am forever changed by the students, our ... <a title="My Year with Book Village" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/my-year-with-book-village/" aria-label="Read more about My Year with Book Village">Read more</a>

Unesco’s World Book and Copyright Day on 23rd April each year is celebrated to promote reading and the enjoyment of books everywhere. Reading for pleasure in childhood is the biggest indicator of future success, and is more important than the parents’ educational background or income. The benefits of children reading for enjoyment include improved vocabulary,  ... <a title="World Book Day" class="read-more" href="https://bookvillage.co.za/world-book-day/" aria-label="Read more about World Book Day">Read more</a>