UP’s Department of Library Services recently commemorated World Read Aloud Day, which serves as a reminder of the joy and significance of storytelling.

World Read Aloud Day is dedicated to the magic of words, voices and imagination. On 5 February 2025, the Department of Library Services (DLS) at the University of Pretoria (UP) commemorated the day by visiting three institutions in Pretoria West – Little Beez Daycare, the Regae Daycare Centre and the Malusi Youth Development Centre – to read to the children in both English and Sepedi. Their mission was simple: to ignite a love of reading among young children and to empower the community with knowledge. The children gathered in anticipation, hanging onto every word and giggling as they were drawn into the stories.

The team shared lunch, drinks and snacks with the children, while their caretakers, reinforced the idea that nurturing young minds extends beyond books. Additionally, the daycare centres received a generous gift of books, giving educators the tools with which to continue inspiring young learners long after the visit.

The day’s excitement did not end there. The DLS team’s final stop was the Malusi Youth Development Centre – a non-profit organisation that provides educational support and after-school programmes to learners in the community – where they donated a substantial collection of books and textbooks to support students in their academic journey.

Among the material donated were chemistry, calculus and physics textbooks, as well as books about personal growth and empowerment. For those seeking an escape into the world of fiction, the donation included an array of leisure reading material, from gripping thrillers to enchanting fantasies.

World Read Aloud Day reinforced a powerful truth: that words can inspire, educate and transform lives. The success of this initiative highlighted the role of literacy in shaping brighter futures.