Holy Family College in Johannesburg

Eleanor Hough is an ex-principal who spends her retirement helping schools set up libraries. These schools either don’t have a library, or the library is so old with outdated books that it is never used.

In the past, ABCA donated books to the libraries that were set up by Eleanor at Mayfair Convent Primary (in Mayfair), St Theresa’s Convent School (in Coronationville) and St Peter Cleaver Primary (in Soweto).

ABCA recently donated books to the new library that Eleanor is setting up for Holy Family College. Eleanor sent the following message to ABCA:

I am back in Joburg and started sorting out the library at Holy Family College. There are 580 children from Pre-school to Grade 12. There is a lovely new room to be the library and shelves. However, the library is very under-resourced and could do with books for all ages especially High School.

Thank you for the wonderful books you gave me. They are exactly what is needed for the library. I packed them out and onto a bookshelf and took a photo of them to send to you. They will be a great injection of “life” into the life of the library. I hope to open the library up in the new year for children to use.

Thank you so much to your organization. As I was unpacking the books, I thought about all the wonderful people that make it possible for these books to come all the way over the seas to be used here. By the way, both Mayfair and St Theresa’s children are very actively reading. I am not so sure about St Peter Claver as I really feel nervous driving into that part of Soweto so have not been back to see how much the library is being used.

Thanks again,

Eleanor

We recently received the following message from Eleanor about the Holy Family library:

Today I am waiting for my first customers! I have worked extremely hard re-establishing this library. All the newest “Australian” books are our newest and they are out on display.

We are so grateful for these books, it’s no use trying to sell a library to children if the books are old and irrelevant to them. Please pass on our grateful thanks to all involved in making it possible for the books to come from all the way in Australia to our shelves in Johannesburg. The school is taking it seriously to get the children and young adults reading and have scheduled a library period in their timetables from 4-15 year olds.

Sadly I have very few suitable books for young teens. If at all possible you get more books I would so appreciate books for ALL ages. I am having 75 Grade 8 ‘s and 75 Grade 9’s come to me and at most I have about 20 books suitable for this age. 🙏🙏

February 2025