ARTICLE BY: Chris Buchanan
PUBLICATION: Impact SA
As of March 2023, Spar permanently employed 46 learners, surpassing YES's 2.5% absorption rate requirement. their 2023 intake began in April with smartphone-equipped learners gaining valuable workplace experience.
The central initiative of the Trust is to support the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) through the promotion of literacy in primary and secondary schools in previously disadvantaged communities whilst providing youth employment opportunities.
Our network of 63 resource centres and 65 full time staff, aided by 12 Youth Employment Services (YES) learners ensure over 72 000 learners have daily access to literacy resources.
Promoting literacy is achieved through the provision of pioneering libraries that drive reading for learning and study, and for sheer enjoyment. The materials and resources have made a critical difference in the classroom when it comes to using and understanding the printed word across the curriculum. The provision of these materials has allowed resource-poor schools access to reading tools that were previously unavailable to them. Schools hitherto side-lined and languishing in anonymity now participate confidently in our annual book quiz, spelling bee, general knowledge and dictionary challenges, with books clubs thrown for good measure; they also sign up without coercion for the maths, science and technology competitions. These competitions bring out the best from the learners, allowing them a confidence and self-belief to access a more balanced education, something inaccessible to the majority of children from economically deprived areas.
Given the lack of employment opportunities, the Trust is also committed to recruiting librarian assistants in and around the townships in which our libraries are situated. This has allowed Imperial and Motus to grant opportunities to unemployed matriculants who show potential. Over the years, we have had many of our librarians promoted internally as cluster leaders and curriculum managers; and some (with our financial assistance) have qualified as teachers and are employed by the GDE.
Our staff recruitment initiative allows these young people – many of whom are breadwinners – to support their families. The grim reality is that the country is awash with unemployment so to be able to make a contribution to the alleviation of poverty – however small – is gratifying.
Recently, the Trust has had an opportunity to provide a workplace experience avenue for 25 youth sponsored by the Motus Corporation, as part of their YES Programme Initiative. During their contract with us, they are upskilled to with experience needed to implement the programmes of the Trust: Microsoft Excel, first aid, basic knowledge in the teaching of reading and supporting learners who are part of Sunshine Reading Club. They are also on hand to assist teachers with the different resources for their subjects and lessons. During this time, they are monitored by Youth Employment Services so that they learn as much as they can, while they are employed.