Founders: Gina Mhlophe, Lesley Beake and Sindiwe Magona ...€¦ · Patron: Gcina Mhlophe BOARD MEMBERS From 1 March 2017 to 22 September 2017 • Roy Zazeraj (Chair) • Mike Walwyn

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Children’sBookNetwork

AnnualReport2017-18

Founders:GinaMhlophe,LesleyBeakeandSindiweMagonaPatron:GcinaMhlophe

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Who we are and what we do

Children’sBookNetwork(CBN)camefromapassionforchildrenandreading–particularlychildrenbetweentheagesofnineandtwelvewhocanread,butdon’t.VerylittleisdonetohelpthisvulnerableagegroupmaketheleapfromC-A-Ttostoriesinvolvingrealcats…greycats,lostcats,bravecats,frightenedcats…Wefindthatmostofthechildrenweworkwithcandecipherthelettersonthepage–willevenreadaloudifgivenhalfachance–butreadmechanically,withverylittleimaginationandnorealunderstandingofstory,beyondasenseof‘thishappened,andthenthathappened’.Themethodswehavedevelopedduringthelastfiveyearsareexperimental,buttheywork.Nobodyelseisdoingthis.• Webringchildrenfromunder-resourcedcommunitiesto

action-packedworkshopsatweekendsorintheirschoolholidays.

• Webringexcitingbooksthataretheverybestintheworld,as

wellastopSouthAfricanbooks.• WeworkinEnglishasthechildrenaretaughtinEnglishbythis

stageatschool.• Webringdynamic,creativepersonalitiestomotivatethe

workshops.Theybringtheirindividualpassionswiththem.Thishasincludeddrummers,poets,hip-hopsongwriters,archaeologists,astronomersandconservationists,yogateachers,cellists…thelistislong.

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• Weprovidequalityartmaterialsandmaterialsforwritingprojects,musicanddrama,gamesandfun.

Thechildrenweworkwithchoosetocome.Thisisnotaschoolactivity.Weworkwithcommunities.LastmonthsixchildrenfromDeKopinformalsettlementranfivekilometresfromhometotheworkshopvenuebecausetheirtransportfailedandtheywantedtobeataSaturdaymorningworkshop.Theycomebecauseourworkshopsarefun,werespectthemaspeopleandlistentothem–and,mostofall,becausetheyaremotivatedtomasterthismysteriousandlife-enhancingskillcalledreading.CarryingourworkforwardForthepastthreeyearswehavebeenworkingonCBNReadingToolboxesthatwearedistributingtoenthusiastic,trainedfacilitatorswhowillreachamuchwideraudienceofchildren.(Readership,mightbeabetterword.)Thetoolboxesarebrimfullofbooks,ideas,games,suggestions,excitements,morebooks,funthingstodo,morebooks…andmoreideasaboutbooks.WitheitherthefullToolbox,orasmallerversion(aToolkit),ateacher-librarian,communityactivistordedicatedbookpersoncanenthusehundredsofchildrentoreadwithenjoyment,imagination–andunderstanding.Planstoachievemore2017Hasbeenapivotaldevelopmentalyear,excitingandscarybyturns.Wespentagreatdealoftimedevelopingthemethodsthatwillhelpustoreachmorechildren.

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Therearededicatedbook-loversandreadersouttherewhoareabletohelp.Thereareteacher-librariansandlibrarians.Therearecreativeartistsandmusicians.Wewanttoreachthemandoffertrainingandpracticalhelp.Muchoftheworkdoneduring2017isaimedatdevelopmentsin2018.WorkshopsWeheld15workshopsin2017,inspiteofalackofadequatefundingforpartoftheyear.Thisincludedathree-dayWinterWorkshopatEnlightenTrust,trainingworkshopsatRedCrossChildren’sHospitalwithadonatedtoolboxandanotherforteachersatSevilePrimarySchoolinKhayelitsha.Wealsoworkedwithlibraryforums,tospreadthewordabouttoolboxesandLesleypresentedourideastoahighlevelworkinggroupofprovinciallibraryexecutivesinPretoria.ToolboxesTheprototypetoolboxes(alldonatedandworkinghardintheirnewhomes)aremuchloved–butthenewversionsworkbetter.Theyhaveasmootherfilingsystemforkeepingallbooksandmaterialsundercontrolandthehandbooksandmanualshavebeenupdatedandrevamped.

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Building CBN in 2018

WorkshopsWenowhavetwofullytrainedfacilitators,equippedwithcompleteToolboxes,workinginKhayelitshaandMitchell’sPlain.Inaddition,thereisafacilitatorin-trainingforworkshopsinStanfordandDieKop.Theyareeachplanningtenworkshops(atleast),thisyear.PlanningisalsoinplacetoextendthistoKleinmondandGansbaaiwhenfundingpermitsGeneralTrainingToolboxes:WehavethreeprototypeToolboxesin:RedCrossChildren’sHospitalSchool,RedHillinformalsettlementandSevilePrimarySchool(Khayelitsha).Thesefacilitatorsneedfurthertraining.ToolboxesThereisahugeamountofresearchanddevelopmentinvolvedintheconcepts,booksandmaterialsineachoftheToolboxesandToolkits.Thiswillbeongoingandthebooksinparticularupgradedasnewtitlesbecomeavailableandolderonesgooutofprint.Toolkits(NEWITEM)WehaveaToolkitbeingusedbyalocalfacilitatorfromDeKopinformalsettlement(VuyokaziSiza)andherhelperfromStanfordcommunity(PatriciaValits).ThereisanidealopportunitytodeveloptheconceptoftheToolkitsandtoofferfurthertraining.Thetoolkitconsistsofonethemewithalltheideasandconcepts,selectedbooksforquietreadingandanadministrationbagwiththepaperworkneededtoorganiseaworkshop.LibrarianTraining(thisiscurrentlybeingdeveloped)CBNhasalreadybeenworkingwithlibrariansfromNationalLibrariesandatprovinciallevelandwehavegivenseveralworkshopsinthis

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connection.Wewillbeapproachingthemagain,withaviewtofurtherfine-tuningtheToolboxestotheirrequirements.Costs involved

Workshops• 1-dayworkshop(thisincludesahealthysnackonarrivaland

lunchforthechildren).Threetrainedfacilitatorsincludingmusicandartexpertiseandcommunityhelpers.Artandwritingmaterials.R10000.

• Half-dayworkshop(thisincludesasnackonarrivalandapplestotakehomeandstipendsforthelocaltrainedfacilitatorandhelper.Itcanincludetransport,ifneeded.R1500

FulltoolboxR6500• Fivethemeswith2to3selectedbooksoneachtheme• Handbookofconceptsandideas• 50booksforthechildrentoreadinquietmoments• Administrationkittohelpwithplanningandfinancial

recording.• Bagofartandwritingmaterials,gamesandactivities

ToolkitR1500(NEWITEM)• Onethemewith2-3selectedbooksonthetheme(replaced• regularly)• Handbookofconceptsandideas• 25booksforthechildrentoreadinquietmoments

Smallsupplyofartandwritingmaterialsandgames

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Trainingworkshoplibrarians(R5000includingtravelcosts)• DemonstrationofCBNconceptandpracticalities• Interactiontofindwhatsuitsspecificsituationsbest.• DevisingconceptsasaresultResearchanddevelopmentThereisanongoingneedforresearchintonewbooks,games,activities–evensearchingforandprovidingtheartmaterialsandstationerytakestime.Weneedtoincludethissomewhereinourbudgetsforrunningbothtoolboxesandworkshops.Itisenormouslytime-consumingandcriticaltokeepingtheworkingkitsfresh,aliveandfunctioning.(R50000)

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Funders & Donors

Ahugethankyoutoourfundersof2017:• ThePaddyandSueKellFamilyTrust• NationalLotteriesCommission

Donations• RogerMcCarthy• AnthonyGregorowski• HenriettaChiappini

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Organizations we work with

• RotaryNewlands• RotaryCapeofGoodHope• RotarySkelleftea• RotaryHermanus• OverstrandLibraries• CentrefortheBook• BookchatandJayHeale• RedCrossChildren’sHospital• RedHillReadingProgramme• EnlightenEducationTrust(Hermanus)• BookDash• Biblionef• BumbleBooks• CambridgeUniversityPress• NBPublishers• NewAfricaBooks• JacanaBooks• FranschhoekBookWeekforYoungReaders• PhendulaniBookQuiz• ImagnaryHouse

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Numbers of children we reached in 2017

Date Title Theme days CH T-L SMarch

27,28PRAESAReadingConferenceatBiblionef 40

April 10 Honeyworkshop Bees&Honey 0,5 25 13 EasterEggs Easter 0,5 21 22 StanfordHeroes LocalHeroes 0,5 25 June

30ToolboxhandovertoSevillePrimarySchool

July 3,4,5 AGreenExperience GreenHeroes 3 40 September

23 LandcapeandlivesofchildrenOurworldproject 0,5 19

October

3,4 IntroducingmeOurworldproject 2 23

13ToolboxpresentationatRedCross Toolbox 5

28 Me,us,hereOurworldproject 0,5 23

November

10LibraryForumOverstrandandWinelandsinVilliersdorp 1 18

15 RedCrossChildren'sHospital Imagination 0,5 15 December 16 Workshopwithfestivetheme Festive 0,5 26 February 16 MessageofNelsonMandela Heroes 0,5 30 Total 10 247 18 45Key:CH:ChildrenT-L:TeacherLibrarians

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S:Staff

NoteWewouldhavelikedtoreachmanymorechildren,but2017wasacriticalyearforCBNwithfundinghardtocomeby,especiallyinmidyear.FundingfromtheKellsFamilyTrust(November)andfromNationalLotteries(December)haveenabledustoproceedwithexcitingplanswithboththetoolboxprojectandtheworkshopsduring2018.TherehavealreadybeenthreeworkshopsinMitchell’sPlainonSaturdays(dayworkshops)reachingbetween20and25childreneachdayaswellasanongoingprogrammeinStanford

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Structure

Patron:GcinaMhlopheBOARDMEMBERSFrom1March2017to22September2017• RoyZazeraj(Chair)• MikeWalwyn• KennyvanAardt• AneleMhlahlo• LesleyBeake(Director)

From22September2017to28February2018• AnthonyGregorowski(Chair)• RoyZazeraj(RetiringChair)• PrimroseMrwebi• HildegardWitbooi• LesleyBeake(Director)

From8January2018to28February2018• DaveMohr

ADMINISTRATION• DirectorLesleyBeake(alsocurrentlyaboardmember).*• Administrationassistant*• TrustSecretary*

Fundraiser• Localfundraiser(ElaineDavie)*• PersontocontactlocalsuppliersfordonationsV

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Accountsandtaxmatters• Book-keeping*• Bankingadministrationandpayment*

Informationandpublicity• WebsiteV(LB)• SocialmediaV(Stillnotfilled)• LocalinteractionV(Exploriolocalcommunity)

CREATIVETEAMWorkshopteam• Creatingnewideas(LB)*• Workshopplanningandadministration(LB)*• CateringandtransportarrangementsV• Evaluationandassessment*(Tobediscussed)

Toolboxteam• Creatingmaterials(LB)*• Trainingthetrainers(LB)*• Libraryoutreach(LB)

KEY*Monthlyretainerbasedonanagreednumberofhoursplussubstantialvolunteertime%Fundraisingbyarrangementasdiscussedbyboard–possiblepercentageplusvolunteerVVolunteer

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Where to find more information

Everythingwehaveeverdoneisonourwebsite.Aswithallouractivities,itfocusesonthechildren.Thebestlinkstoclickonare:http://www.childrensbook.co.za/(Foreverything)http://www.childrensbook.co.za/workshops/reports(Forreportsonworkshops)http://www.childrensbook.co.za/workshops/toolboxes(Formoreonthetoolboxes)http://www.childrensbook.co.za/sites/default/files/resource-documents/cbn-funding-proposalrevisedsmall.pdf(Foreverythingaboutourfundingproposalfor2018-2019)

Governance and Donations information

BankingdetailsBankaccountdetails:

AccountName:TheChildren'sBookNetworkTrust

FirstNationalBank:TokaiBranch

Branchnumber:200409

AccountNumber:62570830458(Chequeaccount)

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Thanks

RotaryNewlandsforsupport,encouragement–andasupplyofimpeccableboardmembers,includingRoyZazeraj,KennyvanAardtandMikeWalwyn.JayHealeforhisceaselesssupportandencouragement–andforbeingourBookEditorforsolong.NewboardmembersforagreeingtostepupandpartofCBN’sexcitingpathforwards.Ourcreativeandadministrativeteamforthemany,manyhoursofvolunteerwork.Ourfunders,particularlytheNationalLotteriesandtheKellsFamilyTrust.

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