Source: SPAR  

SPAR has announced that its Star Retailers Foundation continues to support children’s development through the Dream Big Little Reader Programme.

The Foundation was launched in 2021 by independent SPAR retailer Serena Jagadasan, owner of SUPERSPAR Supermarket Starwood in Durban. 

In many public schools across South Africa, shelves once filled with books now stand empty. Budget constraints and resource shortages have forced the closure of libraries, leaving young minds without the magic of storytelling and the joy of exploration.

With the ability to read, a child develops a potential for a great future and prospects. Barriers to learning drop away, and the path to a successful brighter career and more stable future becomes a reality.

Forging partnerships

“Instead, we’re seeing reduced literacy levels in primary schools across the country, which means limited access to knowledge and opportunities for growth,” says Mpudi Maubane, national PR, communications and sponsorship manager at The SPAR Group Ltd.

“It is for this reason that the company proactively forges partnerships with NGOs that focus on addressing issues in the delivery of education. We also steadfastly support the education efforts of our independent SPAR retailers within their communities,” adds Maubane.

Focused on building a literate South Africa, the Programme aims to transform lives by constructing libraries in public schools across KwaZulu-Natal. Currently, eight SPAR retailers are actively engaged on this Programme in their communities, striving to make this vision a reality, says the retail group.

“Through the Programme, we are committed to rebuilding and refurbishing under-resourced government school libraries, which can require up to three months per project. We also focus our efforts on instilling a culture of reading in foundation-phase learners,” says retailer Serena Jagadasan.

Over 3,000 children have been assisted and 10 libraries have been built to date, each containing up to 3,000 books with donations of around 22,500 books received.

“Literacy is the foundation of education and the key to unlocking a brighter future for individuals and societies. It is a fundamental human right and an essential tool for personal empowerment, economic development, and social progress,” adds Jagadasan.

Supporting communities

“Besides supporting retailer-led initiatives in communities across the country, The SPAR Group Ltd actively invests in education initiatives through its various corporate social investment programmes. In 2023, the company invested in various education projects, with the aim of igniting the spark of learning for all,” says Mpudi Maubane.

“Having been in South Africa for 62 years, The SPAR Group Ltd is honoured to be able to not only uplift our entrepreneur retailers but also the lives of those in the communities that our member stores serve. Together, we are writing a story of hope which aims to give every child the opportunity to read; that fills hungry stomachs; and champions women’s issues,” adds Maubane.

In addition to ZAR2.236 million used to build the libraries, approximately ZAR15,000 per month is spent also on cricket coaching. The Foundation’s ultimate end goal is to facilitate bursaries for top-performing learners where they sponsor libraries.