Focus area for Community Outreach and Development participates in the Mamelodi Expo

The University of Pretoria (UP) hosted community-focused organisations on the Mamelodi Campus on Saturday 30 October 2021 from 9am to 1pm. The aim of this networking exhibition was to showcase the services various NGOs offer in and around Mamelodi. This initiative formed part of University Social Responsibility (USR) month.

The Mamelodi event was organised by Urban Studio, which is a collaboration between UP’s Centre for Faith and Community and the Tshwane Leadership Foundation. The aim of the expo was to gather together organisations operating in Mamelodi and to increase opportunities for networking with each other.

The Department of Library Services showcased their 2021 initiatives to contribute to social responsibility with the heading: “Taking the library beyond our walls” by displaying full colour photos "like washing on a line" around our gazebo. One section was dedicated to our Mandela Day projects, namely the distribution of collected canned goods and our meals-in-a-jar to plumbers, builders and painters at some strategic points in Pretoria where such artisans congregate.

In the other sections of the photographic display the emphasis was on the presentation of the storytelling workshop and storytelling to different age groups at Thandanani Drop-In and Inkululeko Community Centre. We also highlighted our Burgers Park outreach in Pretoria Central with photos of our inspirational quotes branded with the library logo.

This was the perfect opportunity for the Community Outreach and Development team to make teachers at early childhood centres aware of this workshop, concentrating on storytelling and practical advice on reading sessions for children. We are very proud to say we received emails and phone calls after the outreach.

The attending members of the public were very interested in our outreach activities and we received numerous compliments on our work, as well as on our colourful exhibition. Some children accompanied their parents, and they were captivated by the photos of the colourful clowns!  Christine, Thulani and Hlohi were exhausted but very happy after having explained our outreach projects numerous times, walking around the gazebo, and pointing out photos of our projects. We handed out pens and notebooks, and interested parties used them eagerly to write down our contact details.

Last but not least was the attention drawn by our “I love my library” photo frame. Some people could not get enough of posting photos sporting it!

After the event all of us realized that by doing something very simple – handing out a jar with soup ingredients or reading a story to a child – we play a role in helping transform the community one step at a time.