Students turn the page on 2020 as Books in Homes program continues
In what has been an unconventional year for education, students in north-west Queensland schools continued to receive their Glencore-funded Books in Homes packs throughout the year, to continue building the foundations of a literature-rich environment in their homes and schools.
Through the program, every student in participating schools in Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Dajarra and Camooweal receives nine books a year to take home to start building their own libraries.
Glencore started funding Books in Homes in 2007 with the aim of encouraging development in reading and literacy and has committed to supporting this program until 2023.
Over our 14 years of supporting the initiative, Glencore has committed $1.4 million to deliver 160,000 books to children who otherwise might not have access to them.
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Cloncurry State School students show their book packs with Jacob Riella, Projects Advisor for Ernest Henry Mining.
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Story time at Cloncurry State School with Allison Mardell, Senior Safety Advisor for Ernest Henry Mining.
Books in Homes CEO, Peter Large, says this was an extraordinary feat and an unprecedented corporate commitment to children living in remote and rural communities.
“Glencore has been a loyal, long-term partner of Books in Homes. Each year Glencore provides the support for Books in Homes to deliver almost 12,000 books to participating schools, of which some 10,500 of those books find their way into the children’s homes,” says Peter.
“Glencore’s long-term commitment to support the children in the remote and rural areas around their operations is second to none.”
“Last year I visited Glencore in Mount Isa and attended the schools’ Book Giving Assemblies along with representatives from Glencore. I witnessed first-hand the good that Glencore delivers to their communities and felt the appreciation and gratitude of the schools − the teachers, the children and their families.”
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Mount Isa Mines Superintendent Fixed Plant Maintenance and Operations, Daniel Breen, shared his love of reading sporting autobiographies with Mount Isa Central State School students.
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Students from Townview State School receive their book packs from John Ward, Superintendent Secondary Smelting and Services, Mount Isa Mines.
“It was pleasing to see the level of engagement the program received in and around Mount Isa, and the value placed on the books by the children who received them.”
“I will never forget the image of a child walking home from school after the Book Giving Assembly, his head held high, our Books in Homes book bag slung over his back, the Glencore logo proudly displayed, a smile on his face, keen and eager to get home and share his books with his family.”
“On behalf of the schools and the children, congratulations and thank you to Glencore for your support for Books in Homes in north-west Queensland.”
During the last school term in 2020, Glencore employees from across our sites attended Book Giving Assemblies to read a favourite book at story time readings and present students with their books.
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Mount Isa Mines Superintendent – Hoisting, Alan Dean, delivered books to Healy State School students.
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The students from Sunset State School made a ‘thank you’ card for Istvan Torok, Manager, Isa Surface Operations, to thank him for taking time from his day to read to the students.
Queensland Metals General Manger for Health, Safety, Environment and Community Maryann Wipaki says the Books in Homes program is our flagship education sponsorship and one of our longest running partnerships.
“We encourage our team to attend book giving assemblies and make guest appearances at story time readings in schools, and to share their love of reading with the students,” says Maryann.
“Not only do the students enjoy story time in the school library, our team witnesses the excitement students experience from owning their own books.”
“We are pleased to partner with Books in Homes to provide this benefit to school children in our region.”