The annual Rally to Read run for Drakensberg KZN took place over the past weekend. Bidvest Insurance teamed up with FNB, Shell Downstream, Telkom Foundation, Toolquip & Allied, Bidvest Facilities Management and Trade & Investment KZN, to form 6 teams to visit 12 different schools in the Drakensberg area. This Rally to Read was a special occasion as it was the last visit of a 3 year program to these specific schools.
The teams met early on Saturday morning to load vehicles (which were kindly supplied by McCarthy VW Umhlanga, McCarthy VW Durban, Toyota Ballito, Toyota Kingsmead, Toyota Mobeni, Nissan Umhlanga, Land Rover Durban, and Bidvest Car Rental), have a quick cup of coffee to kick start the system and hit the road.
On arrival, we were met by excited students and welcoming staff members. The heartwarming moments often felt short-lived with the harsh reminder of the contrast in living standards that exist in our Country. In many instances, the children have to walk an extremely far distance to get to their school. Little things that we take for granted in our own lives are, sadly, often lacking.
Once the reading material and other resources were presented to the school, students split up into their classrooms where they performed readings, poems, and plays. It really was an encouraging sight to see just how effective the Rally to Read program has been for these schools and their students. And it doesn’t stop in KZN – This year, Rally to Read will visit 97 schools, train 1339 teachers, and will impact 42 880 learners nationwide!
This Rally to Read was also special as one of the schools on our rally, Bhekuzulu Primary School, was awarded Best Performance on the Read program!
As it is with Rally to Read, very few emotions are left unaccompanied by their counterpart and although it was sad to see these schools have their 3 year programs come to a close, it’s also something to look forward to as new schools, teachers and students will be reached by the Rally to Read program next year in a new opportunity to enrich and better lives.
HUGE thanks to all the sponsors and all those who contributed and participated in helping to make this Rally to Read a great success!
