The Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital was filled with the sounds of stories thanks to librarians, authors and the Nal’ibali team on World Read Aloud Day!
Cape Town, South Africa (07 February 2025) — Celebrated earlier this week, World Read Aloud Day brought the sounds of stories to communities all over the country, including a very special morning for the young patients of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s hospital.
Local drivers of the project, Nal’ibali, along with Cape Town librarians, City officials and authors took time to read to patients at the hospital in what made for a rewarding experience both for the listeners and the readers.
An international effort focused on fostering a love of reading in young people, World Read Aloud Day is essentially a love letter to literacy, connection and the magic of stories.
Every year, Nal’ibali sets a national target for the amount of people they wish to reach through the power of words, with this year’s target sitting at 3.5 million children across the country.
World Read Aloud Day has been going strong since 2010 after it was founded by LIT World, and every year reminds people that one moment immersed in a story can be the portal to a life-long love of reading; a love that aids in many developmental spheres from imaginative capacities to interpretation skills. Additionally, the act of reading aloud is very much a catalyst for invaluable quality time between parents or guardians and children.
“We often speak of the massive benefit of reading aloud to young children to help expand their language skills and grow their curiosity, but I am convinced the benefit goes both ways, and that reading to children is one of the most rewarding things you can do.
“It is the best way to spend quality time together and bond over an activity that gives them an undeniable head start in life. I urge all parents to spend some time every day reading to their young children, and to make use of our City’s incredible libraries to help feed the reading passion,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.
Adds Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital:
“I encourage all people to embrace the power of reading to help us shape healthier and more prepared children for the future.Reading aloud to your children not only enables them to strengthen their language skills, but exposes them to new words and ways of expressing themselves.
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“These moments also nurture a precious bond between the child and the parent. This is crucial for their overall development and can set the tone for their academic success when they start school and beyond.”
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