AmaZink Live, a restaurant and events venue in Kayamandi, hosted a book fair in celebration of Mandela day (18 July), where locals of Kayamandi could collect books and stationery that had been donated to AmaZink.
This is according to Kay Mhlakaza, the operations manager at AmaZink.
AmaZink hosted a book fair in honor of Mandela day on 18 July. The tables in the front of the venue were filled with books and magazines, according to Kay Mhlakaza, the operations manager of AmaZink. By lunch time, 70% of the books on some tables had already been collected by the community, said Mhlakaza. PHOTO: Sherie Vollenhoven
Mhlakaza was inspired to host a book fair for Mandela Day by the quote by Nelson Mandela, that “education is the great engine of personal development.”
Impact of the book fair
The book fair had received book donations from five groups of exchange students who are currently studying in South Africa. The exchange students had each donated about 50 books per group, according to Mhlakaza.
“We had […] teachers that came to pick up some books for their crèches, and just after school, young people and children that came to pick up books for themselves,” said Mhlakaza.
Donations were accepted from 12 July, according to Mhlakaza.
More than 500 books were donated for the book fair. Mhlakaza stated that most of the book donations came from 5 groups of international students, according to Kay Mhlakaza, the operations manager of AmaZink. PHOTO: Sherie Vollenhoven
The book fair’s expected turnout was diminished due to the poor weather conditions on Mandela Day, according to Kontyo. Nonetheless, he said that they were still surprised at the number of people that showed up, although he was unable to estimate the specific number of attendants.
Thuthuzwa Mvumvu, a Kayamandi resident who attended the book fair, said that she was so excited for the book fair that she put books aside for herself the day before while they were setting up. Mvumvu said she would enjoy it if AmaZink could make the book fair a regular occurrence.
Kay Mhlakaza, the operations manager of AmaZink, discusses the impact the book fair had on the community and their plans to donate any of the remaining books, after Mandela day, to the library and crèches in the Kayamandi area.
The books that are left over after Mandela Day will be donated this week to the library and crèches in Kayamandi, according to Mhlakaza.