To most of us, 14 February is Valentine’s Day. But for the children of Windy Heights Primary School in Umlazi, 14 February 2025 will be remembered as the day their brand-new library was opened, complete with almost 2000 books as well as iPads loaded with apps that will entertain them while they learn. And we hope that this will be the start of a love of reading that will last for a lifetime, and will help countless children realise their dreams.
This was the latest, and largest, library that Ignition Group has sponsored, in association with The LEARN Project, and it was a major undertaking!
It started with the building itself – Windy Heights already had a library space, but it needed a lot of love (there’s that Valentine’s connection again!). Ros Toerien from The LEARN Project wrote a wish list of what she wanted to achieve, and we helped her to tick everything off.
First of all, the tiled floor was redone, so you could say that the library is new from the ground up. Then the entire library was refreshed with a gleaming coat of paint and the bookshelves were redone to give all those books a worthy home. Once the books were cleaned, covered, sorted and put on the shelves, it was time for new curtains to be hung, rugs and cushions to be popped into place to make a comfortable reading space, and new chairs to be placed around the tables so that there was seating for up to 50 learners at a time.
The result is a beautiful, functional space that will have a profound impact on every one of the learners at Windy Heights.
The digital aspect of the new library is particularly important for Ignition – as a technology company, we know the value of digital skills in forging a successful career. That is why this is the second digital library that we have sponsored. The iPads that the library is equipped with are preloaded with educational apps, offering a modern approach to learning that blends reading and traditional learning with digital interactivity. These iPads will introduce students to new ways of accessing knowledge and educational tools, as well as developing digital literacy – an essential skill in today’s world. Educational games have been installed along with apps for reading, writing, coding, spelling and maths, which will build a strong skills and knowledge base for the children’s future success.
Recognising the importance of digital access, Ignition Group made sure that the iPads will be taken care of so that they are available and usable for the long term. The iPads are fully insured by TechSured, a business within the Ignition Group ecosystem, and a year of IT tech support has been provided to help maintain and optimise these devices, ensuring they remain valuable learning tools for students and educators alike.
The importance and size of the project meant that the launch was attended not only by teams from Ignition Group and The Learn Project, but also by representatives of the KZN Department of Education. Mr DJ Sibisi, Director of the Educational Library and Information Technology Services, was effusive in his praise for The Learn Project, saying that initiatives like this one are felt not only in the school and the community, but are felt across the whole province. In support of the Windy Heights’ library, the Department donated two laptops for the librarians to use, as well as access to an online library of over 600 000 books.
Nomvuzo Ndelemane is the librarian at Windy Heights, but by day she’s also a Grade 2 teacher. It’s only when the final bell rings and her teaching day ends that her voluntary job of school librarian begins. She spends every afternoon until 4:30 in the library because she loves books so much and knows the impact they have on children. “The iPads will be so popular,” she says. “We already have to limit numbers in the library, letting 100 children in at a time, but now even more will be wanting to come.” Nomvuzo isn’t just a librarian or a teacher – she’s an author too, having already published two books and working on her third. What an inspirational woman to head up this new library.
One of the most passionate teachers you could hope to meet, Linda Makhathini played a big role in getting The Learn Project to Windy Heights and getting the project up and running. His excitement on the day of the launch highlighted this passion, “The revamp and launch of our new library today is a victory for us. As a school, we follow the slogan, ‘Making education compulsory, fashionable and fun.’ The new technology we are receiving will help us achieve this by making learning more engaging and accessible. We’ve seen the gap in literacy, with statistics showing that many young South African pupils struggle with reading for meaning and writing effectively. This donation of a library and books will help us address this challenge.”
Ignition Group believes that access to education is access to opportunity. By supporting The Learn Project, we are helping to bridge the literacy gap in South Africa, where many young pupils struggle to read for meaning. By adding digital libraries to the project and integrating technology into their learning, we are ensuring that young learners develop the skills they need to succeed in a digital world. Supporting literacy and digital literacy aligns with Ignition’s mission to create possibilities, uplift communities and unlock potential, because when people can read, they can lead.
