At Karatera the bicycles were won by Rozelle Westraat (7) for her story “My huis in Karatera” ("My home at Karatera") and Gerswan Sass (12) for his story concerning a visit to the game reserve. Ruigtevlei's bicycles were won by Densil October (11) for his story “Sondagoggend in my straat” ("Sunday morning in my street") and Saira Felix (10) for her story “My ma dra lekkerruik parfuum” ("My mother uses sweet smelling perfume"). The same theme also resulted in the two Redlands winners, Eugene Lamini (9) and Chanodee Makombe (10), receiving bicycles. Lize Minné Coetzee, who does home schooling at Karatera, was the seventh winner with a story on her love for chameleons.

The presentation of the bicycles caused huge expectation and excitement among the children – and lots of emotion among the organisers.

Project partners were the Knysna Municipality, represented by Xola Frans, Lapa Publishers (book donation and writing competition), represented by Maritha Snyman, and the George branch of the Vryburgers (sponsoring the bicycles), represented by Roelof van Dolderen.

On Monday, the children of Karatera Primary School were also photographed free of charge by Cecil Gericke of the George photographic club, and they will soon receive a set of 10 school photographs each, courtesy of the Sedgefield Lions Club.

Leti Kleyn of the Unit for Creative Writing (who initiated the project) and Maritha Snyman of Lapa Publishers envisage repeating the project next year, and then also possibly making a book for the children with their stories. Book donations and expanding the magazines and newspapers the library is currently receiving will also be continued. And if everything goes according to plan, the schools could perhaps even get small reading rooms next year, the illiterate senior citizens could receive a number of audio books and more children could get bicycles.

Leti Kleyn may be contacted at [email protected] or 082 347 9982.