READ to RISE turns 4!

On 18 September 2017, we celebrated READ to RISE's 4th Birthday!

What an amazing 4 years it has been - we've conducted our programme in over 1600 classes at 90 primary schools, have 9 awesome staff and given out over 80,000 new books to learners in under-resourced communities such as Mitchells Plain, Soweto and surrounds.

On 18 September 2013, Athol and I went to Meadowridge Primary School in Lentegeur Mitchells Plain. We had printed 40 OAKY AND THE SUN books and went to one class to do our programme. After that session, we were so touched by the reaction of the children that we decided to start up an NGO.

We celebrated in Cape Town at The Venue in Lansdowne on Friday 8 September 2017. Local comedian Darren Amos was the MC, guest speakers included Fatima & Gadija Sydow (from Kaap, Kerrie end Koesisters), Mrs Felicity Sasman (Principal of Montagu Drive Primary School) and Athol Williams (poet, philosopher and also co-founder and chairman of READ to RISE).

Madeegha Anders and Nuraan Boltman graced us with their presence - such amazing performances! Thank you for giving of your time.

Thank you to Hadjira for the photos. And to Mrs Williams for the beautiful READ to RISE cake :)

On Sunday 17 September 2017, we celebrated in JHB at The Mediteranean Hotel in Bedfordview. Athol Williams shared some poetry from his new book INVITATION. Both the Mitchells Plain team and Soweto team were present, including Co-Founders Athol Williams and Taryn Lock and Directors Nicholas Williams and Sibongile Maagwaza. Programme Manager Steve Tsakiris was the MC.

A busy month back in SA... 2 book festivals

We went back to SA earlier than planned as Athol needed to be in JHB on 4 August. We attended the LeadSA Breakfast in Sea Point on Saturday 5 August.

Then 17-20 August we were at the Lowveld Book Festival, our second year. It was great!

On Friday, Athol and a few poets visited a primary school and high school as part f the festival's Outreach Programme.

Athol had a poetry session about dreams at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre and also was on a panel taking about the role of literature in changing society.

 
We then spent two nights in Hoedspruit. Athol gave a poetry workshop for children in Acornhoek which was attended by legendary journalist and photographer who took the famous Hector Pietersen photo, Sam Mzima. It was lovely to meet him and his wife Thelma. It was wonderful to stay at our friends who live on a game estate, we saw giraffe, warthogs and wild dog puppies!

From 25-27 we went to McGregor for the poetry festival, also our second year back. It was great!

Williams Family in the UK

Managed to go to the Emirates Cup to see Arsenal play Seville, although we lost, overall we still did win the Emirates Cup :)

Managed to have high tea with my mother-in-law at The Orangery at Kensington Palace :) what a treat!

Graduation

Athol graduated on 28 July 2017 with his MPhil in Political Theory from Oxford University. His family visited us in the UK for his graduation. They spent 3 nights in Oxford and 4 nights in London. Graduation Day was great. Athol, his mom, brother and I attended the lunch at Hertfod College and then went to the ceremony at the Sheldonian Theatre where all Oxford graduates have their graduation. The ceremony was in Latin and it was a proud moment when Athol graduated :)

Athol passes with a distinction for his thesis at Oxford University!

Yesterday, Athol got his results, he passed his MPhil and got a distinction for thesis on corporate social justice. Such an amazing achievement! I am so proud!

Oxford was a dream of Athol's. In 1998, on a trip to visit Oxford, his brother Nick bought him an Oxford jacket. Athol swore that he would only wear it when he only is officially a student. Now he can wear his jacket with pride.

Athol grew up in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, South Africa during apartheid. Today, he has degrees from Wits, MIT, LBS, Harvard University, LSE and now Oxford University!

At the age of 47 years old, despite being older than all his classmates, supervisors and most of his professors, Athol still passed the two year MPhil degree.

We are proud of you Athol!

Trip to Shropshire 2-7 July 2017

We decided to visit Shropshire, which is almost 3 hours train (via Wolverhampton/Birmingham New Street) from Oxford.

We spent 5 night in Shrewsbury - the home of Charles Darwin... father of the the theory of evolution.

Shewsbury is a beautiful town almost completely surrounded by the River Severn. It's very hilly with it's black and white buildings... so pretty!

We went on a 45 minute boat cruise called Sabrina along the River Severn.

Near to the station is Shrewsbury Castle and Regimental Museum. The grounds are free to roam, and it's wonderful to have a picnic on a bench. There's also Laura's Tower up the stairs on the right. A bit of stairs but so worth it. At the top you get beautiful views of Shrewsbury and an old tower.

Across the road is Shrewsbury Library with a statue of Charles Darwin in front.

The town is small so you can easily walk to town. We stayed at 20 Belmont Street in a Grade II listed building. There was lots of restaurants and shops nearby.

The Quarry Park is a large open garden with The Dingle which is a lovely manicured garden.

On the Tuesday we attended a Strictly Strings concert show at the Severn Theatre, where a group of about 100 youngsters aged 8-17 years from the Shropshire Music Group played 10 pieces of music for us. These youngsters were very talented.

On the Thursday we caught the 436 bus from Shrewsbury to Much Wenlock, a little village 30 min south of Shrewsbury. This the where the Olympic Games we created. There's just one street with lovely quaint shops, pubs and book shops. A little walk on is the Much Wenlock Priory. These abbey ruins are magnificent!