GENERAL:
This year we are working from a more organized base – and with a bigger team. We will try to keep the goals more attainable and not exhaust everybody along the way. The need is greater than ever and the support is growing. We just have to get on with it.
WORKSHOPS: (Workshop Manager Wilien van Zyl)
During the calendar year 2025, we achieved 93 workshops in Stanford (2 venues) Hermanus, Calitzdorp and Prince Albert, reaching a recorded total of 893 children.
In 2026 we will spread the reading net wider with several new projects as well as the steady work being continued from the last few years.
SPECIAL WORKSHOP PROJECTS:
- A Year of Reading:
Grade 6 in Calitzdorp First term proceeding very well with community involvement in providing extra books for the classroom.
Grade 5 in Stanford Also proceeding well with weekly workshops as planned. - Charley Trust Animal Welfare Project Grade 4 in Stanford
Series of 10 workshops each with specially written stories- Caring for pets and learning to stand up to bullies
- Basic pet care
- Understanding of the cruelty of dog fighting, and the importance of its prevention.
- The Island Project: (Part of the Blue Toolbox material) Grade 7. Understanding of basic land forms and volcanic islands in particular. Basic survival skills and adaptation.
THE TEAM:
CREATIVE CONTENT: (Writing and ideas Lesley Beake)
THE RED TOOLBOX just needs a final check (only small corrections) and it will be print-ready for when we get orders.
THE BLUE TOOLBOX now has priority with Lesley and Dee working to a style sheet and a set formula for layout. There are 6 Books to be produced during this year – one at a time – from March. Most material is already written and now has to be collated into 2 boxes.
THE GREEN TOOLBOX will begin in May, developing the categories for the 2 Toolboxes and collecting material and illustrations as they come along. We may have help with this – developing material off-site and then creating stories to go with the reading aspect. TBC.
PUBLICATIONS : (Production Manager Toast Coetzer)
We have fundraising opportunities with Poppy Too (and subsequently Poppy Free) and also the novel Survive. TBC. There is also the possibility of publishing Zeb at some stage, and two other books – Chronicles and Time-Trackers. This would be part of an arrangement with Mangalani Publishing. Profits for these will go to CBN with production costs being raised by interested funders.
MANGALANI PUBLISHING
Have the expertise and connections to submit books to National Education (a process we don’t want to contemplate!) If we can self-publish the titles, even in very small quantities, he will sell them as trade books, help us to adapt them to departmental specifications, and see them through the submissions process. We split the profit with CBN trust Fund. This will be a donation of IP by Lesley.
BOOKS AND TECHNICAL EDITING (Dee)
There have been great strides since we achieved proper office space and shelving for books and filing (for which we must thank the Charlie Trust for funding.). This year we need to develop more relationships with publishers of new books (even if it is just notification. It seems that the cheapest way to buy books in quantity is going to be with Exclusive. LB to develop.
FUNDRAISING (ADMINISTRATION (Still Lesley at present)
We desperately need to find a corporate funder who will stick with us and stop this endless stress towards the end of every month. We are still in negotiation with local funders but are eternally grateful to our funders in America and Germany.
FUNDRAISING WITH EXISTING PARTNERS LB
We need caution and advice about the business aspect of CBN – how we develop marketing and promotion of our books as we move into the next stage.
BOOK-KEEPING AND FINANCIAL (Di Parker)
Di has, as always, done a splendid job on a voluntary basis and our 2025 financials are already with our auditor.
Outstanding issues:
Banking organization with Rozhahn
Board Members finalized (Anchelle, Hylton) when our Chair (Anthony Gregorowski) returns from family matters in Australia.
More community involvement with new board members
