World Book and Copyright Day is celebrated on 23 April every year. Can you imagine, that if authors stopped writing, we wouldn’t have heroes anymore, movies wouldn’t be based on best selling novels, academic textbooks wouldn’t be available for studies and many youngsters would never dream about wielding swords, becoming entrepreneurs and grow up to be our future CEO’s?
This is something Van Schaik Bookstore, as a leading academic bookseller, takes very seriously and therefore approached their suppliers to once again join hands with them to change the lives of 450 – 500 children between Gr 2 – 7 from all over South Africa. They will do so by putting together goodie bags filled with stationery, a National Geographic Kids Magazine and of course every child will receive their own book, sponsored by Jonathan Ball Publishers. This year’s stationery suppliers include SMD, National Stationery, CPT Stationery, Grafton Paper, Silveray and Pilot.
“We are very grateful to Jonathan Ball and all our suppliers for contributing so generously towards this worthy cause. It is pivotal that we start teaching children, from a young age, the importance of reading and the value of books. Books widen your horizon and entice people to gain a good education.” says Stephan Erasmus, MD of Van Schaik Bookstore.
Van Schaik Bookstore staff members, as well as representatives from some of the suppliers will visit the schools or entertain the learners, at the selected bookstores, during April.
The stores participating this year, are Potchefstroom, Vanderbijlpark (NWU). Long Street in Cape Town, Rondebosch, Stellenbosch, University of Free State, Grahamstown, Parow Centre, PE NMMU, Pietermaritzburg and Hatfield.
Van Schaik Bookstore will simultaneously run an awareness campaign against copyright infringement and plagiarism in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland where their stores are situated. “There are many myths and facts surrounding Copyright. It is important that people are informed of the implications of copying someone else’s intellectual property. Not just the legal and financial implications, but also the moral implications as a country who wants to grow the leaders of tomorrow.” concludes Erasmus.
World Book and Copyright Day is an annual event that takes place on 23 April, organized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization), launched in 1995.
