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In a powerful step towards empowering future generations through literacy, AVBOB proudly unveiled its 71st container library at Bashele Primary School in Wesselton, Ermelo, Mpumalanga on the 21st of August 2025. The library, valued at over R532 000, is stocked with 3 000 books, demonstrating AVBOB’s ongoing commitment to enhancing foundational literacy in underserved schools.
The celebratory event, attended by dignitaries, school leadership, teachers, parents and enthusiastic learners, marked yet another milestone in AVBOB’s Container Library Project. In 2013, AVBOB donated its first container library to Shukumani Primary School in Tembisa, Johannesburg.
“When we hand over a library, we’re not just giving books to the learners of today –we’re planting seeds for generations to come,” said Kebo Mosweusweu, AVBOB General Manager: Shared Value and Sustainability. “This space will serve as a gateway to knowledge, imagination and opportunity for every child who walks through its doors.”
A few facts about the AVBOB Container Library Project
- AVBOB has invested over R35 million in the Container Library Project.
- It has donated more than 210 000 books.
- The project has positively impacted 63 792 learners and 1 908 educators across all nine provinces.
- AVBOB has spent R3.5 million refurbishing and maintaining donated libraries to ensure their longevity and continued benefit.
Bashele Primary School, established in 1968, joins a growing network of schools benefiting from this long-term investment in education and literacy. The school leadership and community were praised for their resilience, commitment and role in shaping young minds over the past 57 years.
“I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to AVBOB for this generous donation. The container library represents more than just access to books. It is an investment in the education, growth and future of our learners. We are confident that the library will play a vital role in fostering a culture of reading and lifelong learning within our school community. We deeply appreciate AVBOB’s commitment to education and to empowering the next generation,” said Ms Simphiwe Sibiya, Principal at Bashele Primary School.
One of the learners also expressed words of gratitude: “The school library will help us to improve our reading skills and enable us to do our homework and research. It will help us learn and get new information. The library will save us on transport costs as we previously used to travel to Wesselton and Thusi libraries to get information. The library will help us read with enjoyment and have fun; it is a treasure trove of knowledge and joy. It is where me and my friends gather to explore new worlds through books.”
The library initiative forms part of AVBOB’s broader Corporate Social Investment (CSI) strategy and supports South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030 through meaningful public-private partnerships that address literacy challenges in early education.
“Our investment in literacy is part of a much bigger picture,” Mosweusweu added. “We believe that education is the most enduring gift we can offer. Through our Container Library Project, we’re helping to build a future where every child, regardless of background, has access to the tools they need to thrive.”
This is not a once-off handover,” Mosweusweu emphasised. “We remain committed to supporting our beneficiary schools with ongoing maintenance and literacy-related assistance. We want these libraries to remain vibrant, relevant and impactful for years to come.”
The unveiling of the container library at Bashele Primary School marks more than a milestone – it signals a deepening of AVBOB’s commitment to educational equity and community upliftment. By embedding literacy infrastructure directly into schools, AVBOB is helping to dismantle barriers to learning and create environments where curiosity and academic growth can flourish.
This project reflects a broader vision: one where CSI is not transactional, but transformational. Through sustained partnerships, ongoing support, and a focus on long-term impact, AVBOB continues to champion the belief that every child deserves access to knowledge, regardless of geography or circumstance.
As learners begin to explore the shelves of their new library, they step into a space designed to inspire, empower and elevate. The ripple effects of this investment will be felt not only in test scores and reading levels but in the confidence, aspirations and futures of the children it serves.