AVBOB’s Container Library Project
The growing impact of a lasting literacy legacy
On Thursday, 8 October 2026, AVBOB donated its 78th container library at Ezenzeleni Primary School in Carolina, Mpumalanga, adding another school to a literacy programme that has been growing steadily for almost 15 years.
The launch of the new library gives learners direct access to approximately 3 000 books and learning resources in English and isiZulu, aligned with the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) in a dedicated, solar-powered learning space on the school grounds. This is more than a colourful structure; it is an investment in knowledge, imagination and future possibilities.
These libraries are a legacy in action, and their impact can be seen and felt in real-world usefulness, with teachers and learners using them for classroom work, reading activities, research and enrichment. They create an inheritance that goes beyond the printed page to the possibilities of literacy and numeracy.
Mr Gatsha Ngwenya, Principal of Ezenzeleni Primary School, said, “Thank you for supporting our school and for opening your hearts and your hands. Your generosity changes lives. This library gives our learners something they can return to every day. It creates greater access to books and gives our teachers another valuable resource to support learning in the classroom.”
What is AVBOB’s Container Library Project?
It is a flagship literacy initiative founded in 2013 that provides under-resourced South African schools with fully equipped libraries made from refurbished shipping containers. AVBOB has invested more than R39 million in creating and delivering 78 container libraries across all nine provinces. More than 228 000 books have been donated, reaching over 80 000 learners and over 2 400 educators.
How is AVBOB redefining long-term commitment?
The Container Library Refurbishment Project looks after previously donated libraries. AVBOB has invested over R11 million in refurbishing 29 container libraries that are more than seven years old and replenishing their book collections.
A school library is not of much use if shelves gradually become empty, books become outdated, or the space deteriorates. By refurbishing container libraries, AVBOB protects its original investment and keeps the resource relevant for years to come.
“Opening a new library is always worth celebrating, but the impact we are looking for happens over many years. These spaces need to remain useful, relevant and accessible as one group of learners follows another. That is why AVBOB continues to invest not only in new libraries but also in the refurbishment of those already serving schools around the country,” said Kebo Mosweusweu, AVBOB’s General Manager, Shared Value and Sustainability.
These projects form part of AVBOB’s wider investment in literacy and numeracy development. Through the AVBOB Road To Literacy campaign, delivered in partnership with Oxford University Press Southern Africa, mobile trolley libraries are distributed to schools and education NPOs. In 2026, that programme expanded to include Braille-inclusive trolley libraries for selected schools and organisations that support blind and partially sighted learners.
These initiatives bring books and learning resources closer to the learners who need them, while ensuring that earlier investments continue to deliver value. “We are not only about funerals – we are also about life. We invest in growth, learning and in opportunities,” concluded Mosweusweu.