AVBOB has unveiled its 72nd container library, this time at Northern Cape Primary School in Olifantshoek, Northern Cape. Valued at over R532,000 and stocked with 3,000 age-appropriate books, the facility represents another significant milestone in the company’s mission to empower learners through access to literacy resources.
The initiative forms part of AVBOB’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategy, which aligns with South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030. By creating public-private partnerships and sustainable education infrastructure, AVBOB is working to break down barriers to learning across all nine provinces.
Key Achievements of the Container Library Project
- First container library donated in 2013 at Shukumani Primary School, Tembisa.
- Over R36 million invested to date.
- 216,000+ books donated nationwide.
- Impacting 71,000+ learners and 2,032+ educators.
- R8.3 million spent on refurbishments and maintenance to ensure long-term benefit.
More Than Just Books
For AVBOB, the container library is a gateway to possibility. “Literacy is more than just the ability to read, it’s the foundation for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and opportunity,” said Nakedi Pilane, AVBOB’s Executive Director: Business Development and Financial Services.
Principal J. Vries of Northern Cape Primary School emphasised the library’s impact:
“Many of our learners struggle with reading, and this resource will play a critical role in helping to address that. With access to engaging books, we believe a genuine love for reading will begin to take root.”
Road to Literacy Campaign Expands Impact
The Olifantshoek launch complements the AVBOB Road to Literacy campaign, run in partnership with Oxford University Press Southern Africa (OUPSA). In 2025, 1,000 schools and NGOs will receive trolley libraries, each stocked with 500 CAPS-aligned books.
In the Northern Cape alone, 21 schools – including Seodin Primary, Rietrivier Primary, Loeriesfontein Laerskool, and Wrenchville Primary – are beneficiaries. This year, the campaign will distribute over 500,000 books, doubling the 2024 total.
Investing in Tomorrow
For many learners, this is their first access to a fully resourced library – a safe, quiet place to read, research, and grow in confidence. As Pilane concluded:
“AVBOB’s investment in literacy is not just about today, it’s about transforming tomorrow. The true return on this investment will be seen in the confidence, creativity, and courage of the young minds it helps to shape.”
