Books on Wheels for Hullet Combine School.

Hulett Combine School, under the leadership of Principal Mr. Mhlongo, recently welcomed a transformative mobile library generously provided by Kwacele Farming. This new resource is already making a meaningful impact for learners and educators alike.

🎒 What Happened

• Kwacele Farming formally handed over a mobile library unit to Hulett Combine School, in the presence of Principal Mr. Mhlongo and school leadership.

• The mobile library contains a curated selection of reading materials and is trolley‑based, allowing flexible use across classrooms.

• The initiative aims to foster reading habits, support literacy development, and give learners greater access to books that may not otherwise be available.

✏️ Why It Matters

In rural KwaZulu‑Natal, access to libraries and reading materials is limited—often confined to head-office or teacher-training centres. Moving resources directly into classrooms with mobile libraries helps overcome structural barriers (e.g., lack of dedicated library space or transport) New Africa Education Foundation+2The Citizen+2IOL+2.

• Department of Education and UNICEF previously supported a donation of 40 mobile libraries to KZN districts to boost reading outcomes and provide laptops and reading trolleys across schools IOL.

• Similar efforts by the Wildlife College’s Bookworm Kiddies Club have shown strong community engagement and improvements in reading exposure among learners Peace Parks Foundation.

👧 Impact and Aspirations

Mobile libraries like the one donated by Kwacele Farming can:

1. Enhance literacy by placing books directly in learning spaces where students can explore independently and in groups.

2. Promote reading confidence and classroom engagement, especially for early graders.

3. Support teachers, giving them easy access to materials and encouraging creative instruction.

4. Encourage parental involvement, as learners may bring books home and spark reading culture in households.

Principal Mr. Mhlongo expressed his appreciation, noting that learners are now more engaged during reading activities and that enthusiasm among pupils and staff is building as they explore the new resource.

🌱 Bigger Picture: Momentum Behind Mobile Library Projects

• In 2022, the “Million Books Project” delivered mobile libraries and laptops to disadvantaged rural primary schools, reinforcing reading foundations at schools like Celimfundo Primary School in the Midlands Libraries for Literacy+2The Citizen+2The Citizen+2IOL.

• Earlier in Durban, the “Asifunde Mobile Library” campaign distributed mobile units in eThekwini/PINK areas, backed by municipal and business partnerships to uplift learner literacy New Africa Education Foundation.

• The strategic deployment of mobile library trolleys is aligned with the KZN Department of Education’s reading strategy (2020–2025), committed to improving reading comprehension among Grade 4 pupils and beyond IOL.

📝 What’s Next

Kwacele Farming plans to:

• Track usage and feedback from learners and teachers over the term.

• Extend mobile library access to other rural schools in the Ilembe or North Coast region.

• Explore further reading supports: book drives, educator training, or community reading events.

Voices From the Ground

Although direct quotes from the four schools are not yet available, similar donation events have elicited heartfelt feedback:

• At Qhudeni Primary in Nkandla (March 2023), learners expressed pride and relief after receiving donated shoes, thanking their benefactors for restoring their dignity and enabling them to walk to school with purpose jikauluntu.org.za+4Durban University of Technology+4ngoconnectsa.org+4.

• From North West beneficiaries, principals and community leaders praised the initiatives for directly addressing barriers to education and inaugurating broader support efforts for learners Food for Mzansi.

✅ In Summary

This mobile library handover represents a significant educational enrichment for Hulett Combine School. With strong leadership from Principal Mhlongo and the support of Kwacele Farming, the school now has a mobile resource that nurtures literacy, empowers learners, and builds momentum for reading-focused community development. It stands as a local champion in the broader movement to ensure access to books for all learners in under-resourced areas across KwaZulu‑Natal.