A Mobile Library from Japan Arrives in South Africa to Promote Reading

Mobile Library from Japan Arrives in South Africa

The nonprofit organization SAPESI-Japan, based in Minato, Tokyo, has successfully announced the arrival of its mobile library vehicle, Wakatake No. 3, in Johannesburg, South Africa. This vehicle was donated from Takehara City in Hiroshima Prefecture and is set to make a significant impact on literacy among children in the region.

The Wakatake No. 3 has been officially handed over to the Department of Library Services under the Gauteng Department of Education. This mobile library will be utilized to visit public primary schools in southern Gauteng that lack library facilities, aiming to increase access to books and reading opportunities for children.

Background of the Initiative

Since its inception in 2009, this project has been dedicated to collecting used mobile library vehicles from various municipalities across Japan and sending them to South Africa. The Wakatake No. 3 marks the 54th vehicle to be delivered under this initiative. To date, the donated vehicles have reached numerous schools across various provinces, providing reading experiences to countless primary school students, from urban areas to rural communities.

Diverse Support for the Project

The successful transportation of the Wakatake No. 3 was made possible through various forms of support. The Komatsu Foundation Trust offered CSR funding to facilitate the project. Additionally, the people of Takehara City contributed, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines assisted with maritime transport. Concurrently, efforts to collect English-language books were also undertaken, with many volunteers from the company and the community contributing to deliver numerous books to South Africa. Since 2008, approximately 350,000 books have been provided to children through the local education department.

Future Outlook

SAPESI-Japan is committed to continuing its collaborative efforts with Japanese municipalities, corporations, and citizens to support the educational needs of children in South Africa. They encourage any local government with retired mobile library vehicles to reach out to them.

For more details, please visit the SAPESI-Japan website.