The Mandela Day Library project was started in 2011 and since its inception the total amount of children who now have access to Mandela Day Libraries has past 150 000 children a day. The libraries have a direct and real impact on the young minds in each school where we locate the libraries. The primary objective is to give the children a "hand up" and not a "hand out" . They have it in their power to learn to read with the use of the library and with that, we hope that they will use the skill of reading to learn further.

This is why we fill the libraries with books that are aspiration and inspirational. Ideas and places to go that will help to inspire change and hope, as well as the desire to learn more and stay in school.

From the time you start the donation cycle to the initiation of the building of the library we aim to ensure people are uplifted during the whole process. 

You as a donor will help us to educate others to stand up and make a difference , no matter how small. We take the money and initiate a project that buys an old shipping container (12meters). The conversion company then uses people from underprivileged areas to help transform the container by fixing it , waterproofing the roof, painting and installing the doors windows, insulation and security gates as well as electrical fittings in a process that teaches skills such as metal work, welding, painting, fitter and installation of electrical wiring.

The containers are then delivered on a truck and loaded into place ready for the acceptance of books that are donated by Rotary International.

The schools take responsibility for the library and receive training and help on librarian services as well as the support of the Soul Buddyz reading club in South Africa, which is an organisation of more than 150 000 school children that arrange reading clubs in all areas of schooling for South Africa.

The libraries are continually restocked and can carry about 5000 books in total, as well as act as a safe keeping place for official school text books. The units are designed and built to last at least 25 years but we hope to see at least 15 years of continual use until such time as a permanent library is installed. When a permanent Library is built then the school can choose the relocation of the Mandela Day Library container to a new school so others can benefit.

Donations