After learning that children in rural KwaZulu-Natal lacked reading materials and couldn’t participate in World Book Day, eight-year-old Althaeá Dickinson from York, England, took action to share the joy of reading that transcends continents.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (22 August 2025) – Life-changing things happen when kindness meets initiative to make a difference where it’s needed most.
When eight-year-old Althaeá Dickinson learned that children in the underserved Nkandla region of KwaZulu-Natal did not have many reading books and were not able to participate in World Book Day – a literacy initiative she feels strongly about – she set in motion the most thoughtful gesture to change their circumstances.
Despite being thousands of kilometres away, this young girl from York in England became the youngest Bambisanani Partnership volunteer, collecting 1,091 reading books for the primary schools in the remote region last year.
The books made a tremendous impact.
This year again, driven by her belief that books should be enjoyed by ALL children in the world, Althaeá continued her book campaign, collecting a further 1,164 books which were taken out to South Africa recently by Bambisanani volunteers from St. Mary’s School and Newcastle College.
The books were delivered and are being enthusiastically read by children at Thembinfundo Special School, Vumanhlamvu Primary School, Ngqomzana Primary School and Doremi Day Care Centre for orphans and vulnerable children.
Literacy is a key priority for children in the remote rural areas, and Priscilla Guliwe from the KwaZulu-Natal Department for Education was full of praise for Althaeá.
“Our children are enjoying the books, and reading is improving their life chances. They can now read the books without supervision, and reading is becoming a hobby for them. South Africa loves you, Althaeá!”
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“Our learners are loving reading the diverse range of books that she has provided. She contacted me earlier in the year to ask what kind of books my learners would like. Gaining a love of reading now will have a massive impact on their futures. It is wonderful that one so young can be so thoughtful about other children in the world.”
St. Mary’s School and Newcastle College volunteer students in South Africa were also able to use the books to support their literacy programmes.
Darren Beardsley, Chairman of the Bambisanani Partnership, expressed his immense gratitude for the support provided by Althaea.
“She has demonstrated incredible initiative and determination, with this having a positive impact on the schools and the orphanage that we work with in South Africa. Althaea is an example to us all, and I am delighted that her work is making such a difference to so many people.”
Brogan O’Conner, Bambisanani charity trustee and Leader of the Newcastle College volunteer group, commended Althaeá’s initiative and impact.
“I have seen firsthand the impact that these books have. Lots of people recognise inequalities but never do anything about them. Althaeá is amazing, she has just got on with this and made things happen. She is making a real difference, and it is great to have her on the team.”
Responding to the overwhelmingly positive impact of her self-driven book drive, Althaeá thanked the people, businesses and community groups who had been so kind in helping her with this project.
Sources: Supplied
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