Althaeá Continues to Spread the Joy of Reading to Children on the Other Side of the World

Photo Credit: Supplied by Duncan Baines on behalf of Bambisanani Partnership CEO, David Geldart

From an eight-year-old’s big dream three years ago to nearly 4,000 books delivered to schools and centres in rural KZN, Althaeá Dickinson has made it her heartfelt mission to share the life-changing magic of reading with children who would otherwise not get to experience it.

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (28 July 2026) – There’s a saying that goes: ‘Literacy is the bridge from misery to hope’. It is by Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan and one that beautifully captures what is alive and happening in some of the most disadvantaged communities in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

The rural region faces huge challenges in terms of adult and child illiteracy and its extensive negative implications. Lack of resources in some schools remains a key issue.

However, thanks to a young girl across the other side of the world, these circumstances are being changed for the better, one book at a time.

Three years ago, Althaeá Dickinson from York, UK, learned that children in rural South Africa were not participating in World Book Day because they simply did not have books.

Believing strongly that World Book Day should be for ALL the children of the world, the then eight-year-old decided to act and do something about this. She became the Bambisanani Partnership’s youngest volunteer, collecting 1,091 books for South African children. Althaeá went on to acquire a further 1,164 books in 2025 and has kept her heart for this initiative beating loudly.

This year, she collected 1,610 books, which have recently been delivered to some of the most deprived schools and children in rural KwaZulu-Natal by Bambisanani teams from St. Mary’s School, Menston and Newcastle College who promote literacy during their visits. Recipients of books included Ntolwane Primary School, Vumanhlamvu Primary School, Ngqamzana Primary School, Mnyakanya Secondary School and the Zulufadder’s Doremi Crèche and Daycare Centre.

Photo Credit: Supplied by Duncan Baines on behalf of Bambisanani Partnership CEO, David Geldart

In total, Althaeá has now provided 3,865 books, which are all helping in a small but significant way to improve the life chances of the children involved.

William Vilakazi, Principal of Vumanhlamvu Primary School, said he was grateful to have received books from Althaeá and has witnessed how they have made a huge positive contribution to learners’ reading, writing and listening skills.

“This builds confidence and helps learners across the curriculum. My learners are amazed that someone so young can organise these books from the UK; Althaeá inspires and empowers them because they know that a young person like them can bring about change and do things for others,” Vilakazi said.
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These sentiments are shared by Nick Phillips of the Zulufadder Children’s Trust, which has also received books over the past three years and allocated them to a rural creche in uMlalazi. He admired how Althaeá has identified that the greatest contributor to learning in young people is their exposure to books.

“It is really hard for our rural children to imagine that there is a better life out there if they aim for it, as they know little else but poverty and, certainly, they could never imagine going into a book shop to buy a colourful book. So, you have achieved a number of special things. Happiness and escape into the many stories contained in the books. Exposure to people, places and animals that the children have never encountered before. Instilling a sense of hope, excitement, and anticipation, that there are opportunities out there if only they persevere,” Phillips said in a heartfelt message to Althaeá.

Catherine Chattoe, Bambisanani Coordinator at St. Mary’s School, shared that it was difficult to express how important and how valued these books are.

“We see children so excited by the books that they hug them like teddy bears and ask if they can keep them. Althaeá writes messages in the books, which further connects this fantastic project.”

Brogan O’Connor from Newcastle College further commended the young philanthropist’s ability to recognise an injustice and do something about it.

Althaeá raises money to buy books, but books are donated to her from bookshops, other organisations and individuals. She extends her gratitude to everyone who has helped her this year, especially Catherine Chattoe, Brogan O’Connor, Kate Sayers, Sue Rix, Grove Book Shop, Ilkley, Kemps Book Shop, Malton, TJ Jones, Ilkley, Otley Lions, Aireborough Rotary Club, Saltaire Primary School, the Sisters of Mercy and the parishioners of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher Church in Burley in Wharfedale.

Literacy should not be a luxury of the privileged few; it should be an entitlement for all. The Bambisanani Partnership is grateful to Althaeá for reminding them of this truth and for doing something about it to make the world a better place.

The remarkable 10-year-old has already started collecting books for 2027! If you can support this fantastic project in any way, please contact the Bambisanani Partnership by emailing [email protected] or visiting the website.