Nasiphi first learned about Mikhulu Trust from her Bishop at Lake Tiberias Church in Harare, Khayelitsha, who informed her about the book-sharing programme and invited her to join. Eager to explore this new way of connecting with children through stories, she began attending sessions on Saturdays. Initially, Nasiphi viewed a book-sharing journey simply as “sharing a book with a child,” but she quickly realised that it encompassed much more than she had anticipated.
Learning Through a Book-Sharing Journey with Yamihle
She started her book-sharing journey with her cousin’s daughter, Yamihle, who is three years old. Although they do not live together, Nasiphi is close to Yamihle and often looks after her when her parents work. “I imagined book-sharing would be straightforward, but some sessions turned out to be surprisingly challenging. For example, the last book we read was about the game ‘hide and seek.’ Yamihle didn’t know the game, so I attempted to explain it to her. Her confused expression revealed that she wasn’t quite grasping the concept. With days of rain preventing us from going outside to demonstrate, I continued explaining throughout the weekend. Although she grew a bit bored, she eventually understood. When the rain finally stopped, we went outside with my siblings to show her how to play. Witnessing her finally ‘get it’ was a wonderful moment.”
Strengthening bonds
Since beginning the book-sharing programme, Nasiphi has observed significant changes in both herself and Yamihle. “Yamihle seems to adore me even more now,” Nasiphi explains. “When she sees me, she becomes tearful and clings to me—there’s definitely a stronger bond between us. She seems to rely on me more, as if I’m a safe place for her.”
Patience and Growth
Nasiphi has also noticed changes in her own behaviour: “Before book-sharing, if she made a mistake, I would lose my patience and raise my voice. Now, I’ve learned to be gentle and supportive, celebrating her small successes. For instance, if she confuses colours, I gently say, ‘Yes, red is a colour, but this one is yellow.’”
In addition to behavioural changes, Nasiphi has seen Yamihle’s vocabulary grow. She used to mix up two Xhosa words regularly, and Nasiphi would gently correct her until she finally remembered them. “I think my patience is paying off; her parents trust me even more now,” Nasiphi shares. “Sometimes I take videos of our book-sharing sessions and send them to her parents. Even my granny has noticed how much more affectionate Yamihle is toward me now.”
Celebrating Small Victories
Seeing Yamihle smile with pride when she gets something right has been incredibly rewarding for Nasiphi. She recognizes that praise boosts the little girl’s self-esteem, which is something Nasiphi wants to continue nurturing. Although the journey has not always been easy—especially since Yamihle hasn’t attended preschool and Nasiphi has never been a parent before—book-sharing has proven to be a valuable learning experience for both of them. Nasiphi is grateful for every step of this journey together.
