Sisters want to enrich lives at alma mater in Gelvandale

[caption id="attachment_38549" align="alignright" width="405"] WORLD OF BOOKS: Britni Jones, who wants to start a library at Alpha Primary School, and pupils Tamia Johnson, 13, Tamia Rocy, 12, and Marquin Marks, 12. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE[/caption]

THREE Port Elizabeth sisters – an occupational therapist in the UK, a chef in the United Arab Emirates and a doctor in Nelson Mandela Bay – are hard at work establishing a library at their alma mater, Alpha Primary School in Gelvandale.

Narelle Jacobs, 33, Delmé Jacobs, 31, and Britni Jones, 29, who grew up in Cleary Estate, have vowed to turn Alpha's bookroom into a full blown library that will serve as pupils' escape from the realities of their crime-ridden community.

The sisters believe education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.

Principal Rachel Vereen, who is proud of her ex-pupils for giving back to Alpha, said the bookroom stood unused for more than two years.

"When Britni contacted me about a month ago to tell me what they planned, my heart smiled. We already got some books from Collegiate Junior School, some encyclopedias, as well as a TV and projector from the Rotary Club.

'We've always wanted a proper library and we are finally on our way there," Vereen said.

Jones, a doctor at Livingstone Hospital, said her big dream was to have a reading club during the week where retired teachers or people from the community would read to the children. - Alvené du Plessis

For the full story read The Herald, or get the complete newspaper, including comics, classifieds, crosswords and back editions in our

subscribe