Reading has the power to change a child’s world, and that world just got so much bigger for the learners at Masivuke Primary.
Cape Town, South Africa (12 March 2026) – A new library has opened its doors at Masivuke Primary School in the township of Philippi, Cape Town.
The school serves a community that still navigates the lasting effects of inequality, and with limited infrastructure and learning resources, building strong reading foundations hasn’t always been easy. This library marks the start of a new chapter.
It’s the first to open under the Beyond Words project, a national literacy initiative led by the Cotton On Foundation in partnership with the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation and The Bookery. Their mission is to bring books, proper reading spaces and support into schools where those things have often been missing.
Sadly, around 81% of Grade 4 learners in South Africa cannot read for meaning, and many schools still don’t have functioning libraries. When children grow up without easy access to books, learning to read well can become a huge challenge.
The Beyond Words programme seeks to change that. Masivuke Primary was chosen as the first school, which opened this week. More schools are set to welcome Beyond Words libraries over time.
At each partner school, the programme will build or refurbishing libraries, provide age-appropriate books that speak to the local context and introduce digital tools like tablets or laptops to support reading programmes. Teachers will also receive training to guide learners in reading as part of daily school life.
“Every child deserves to experience the joy and power of reading. Collaborating with the Cotton On Foundation and the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation to bring the Beyond Words Campaign to life ensures that more children will have access to books and beautiful spaces to read them in, said Shelley De Wet, Managing Director at The Bookery. “Working together takes the impact further and deeper – showing children they matter, their voices count, and they can imagine and shape their own future,” she added.
The opening brought loads of excitement to the school. The event was attended by internationally recognised actress and philanthropist Nomzamo Mbatha, Western Cape Minister of Education David Maynier, Head of the Cotton On Foundation worldwide Tim Diamond and author Sihle Nontshokweni.
“The opening of this library is deeply meaningful for all of us,” says Tim Diamond, General Manager of the Cotton On Foundation. “Since 2012, we’ve invested more than 175 million Rand in South Africa, supporting some of the country’s most at-risk young people. And our commitment to the future remains as strong as ever, with a focus on Education, youth mental health and environmental impact,” he added.
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