Dozens of young people in the Delft library.
- A library in Delft Cape Town has implemented a program to reward young people for learning and reading.
- As part of the program, young people who read or do their homework in the library have the opportunity to play PlayStation or Xbox games there.
- theeachim is to increase their vocabulary and get them off the streets and away from a life of crime.
A library in Delft, Cape Town, is on a mission to get young people off the streets and a life of crime by implementing a games section that incorporates rewards for reading and learning.
Ashley Lewis, who runs the library, was the mastermind behind the initiative.
He told News24 that it broke his heart to see young people asking passers-by for money and sitting on street corners.
“One of the main concepts was to lure young people into the library, give them some educational lessons, and then reward them by letting them play PlayStation and Xbox games so they get used to the concept that hard work pays off.
“We can’t allow our children to idolize crime and gangsterism; that’s not something they should be subjected to,” Lewis said.
The “work hard and then get rewarded” program started over a week ago.
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Initially, only three children showed up at the facility.
But they quickly spread the word and today, more than 60 young people go to the library every day.
Lewis explained:
At first they came and immediately went to the games section. But we have stopped that. They must learn that nothing comes for free. So now we have implemented that each child read a book for about 30 minutes and then tell the staff what she read, or [they] bring your homework to finish here so that you improve your vocabulary and knowledge before turning on the games.
“The library has been around for 40 years, and nowhere in the province has a library implemented such a program, so we hope this initiative will inspire other libraries to get more children off the streets,” he said. Lewis.
The initiative started with a television and PlayStation equipment already on the premises.
“The TV and the PlayStation were just sitting there, not being used at all. I kept thinking, ‘How can I use this equipment so it doesn’t collect dust?’
Youngsters eagerly awaiting their turn in the games section.
PlayStation games have been implemented in the Delft Library.
On Thursday the children gathered in their numbers in the games section.
Young people in Delft enjoying the games section in the library.
Friendships are also formed in the library.
“I grew up in Manenberg and I know firsthand what it’s like to not have what your friends have and how easy it is for parents to say no when kids want expensive stuff because they just don’t have the money.”
“That was partly what prompted me to implement this in the library,” Lewis added.
Two additional TVs, two additional PlayStation games, and one Xbox game have since been added after other libraries donated them.
The library now has its own educational, entertainment, and gaming sections.
Lewis said the sad reality for most of the children in the community was that they were illiterate and had never set foot inside a library.
PlayStation games have been implemented in the youth library.
The games section inside the Delft Library.
“We’re working to get them library cards so they can take books home. It’s been amazing to see how these young people have embraced the opportunity to learn outside of school and how many of them are actually willing to stand in long lines.” to enter We have never had queues in this library.
“Even during the load shedding, the kids will wait outside for us to open,” Lewis laughed.
He said parents no longer need to worry about where their children are after school because they have a “safe space” to learn.
He said:
In a disadvantaged community, it is very difficult to do something with your life. It’s all too easy to idolize crime, and the library aims to break that cycle so our kids know that once you work hard for something, you’ll be rewarded.
It’s a great feeling to have her,” Lewis added.
The library is open from Monday to Saturday.
