Reading Starz

For more than 33 years READ has encouraged a love for reading, for books and for literacy among communities across South Africa. We have done this through the Readathon campaign and the numerous literacy projects undertaken in schools. And always we did this with the support of the teachers, learners, parents and education officials.

Last year (2011) READ started a pilot book club project in three schools in Gauteng in order to learn more about the practicalities of running a book club, to see what youngsters would like to read when they had a choice of books to read and to find out how READ can contribute to existing book clubs.

As a result of the findings of the pilot project, READ started the Reading Starz Forum. The Forum aims to direct attention to the benefits of reading and will do so by supporting and offering existing book clubs a place to share ideas of what makes a book club work, what can be done to encourage the youth to read more and how we can inspire and learn from each other.

Reading Starz meets on the first Saturday of each month for an hour. Members are invited to join the meeting and interact with the guest speakers. READ trainers and book selectors will introduce new releases, discuss old favourites and share innovative ideas of how to increase access to books in book clubs and the community.

Above all, Reading Starz will encourage  its members to participate in forum activities by submitting  book reviews, by entering the competitions – where they will be able to win great prizes-, by using the special offers available only to Reading Starz members and by encouraging other book clubs to join the forum.

If you would like you and your school to be part of Reading Starz, put your email address in the comment space provided and READ Educational Trust will send you an invite.