The Booksellers of Mzansi is a job creation offshoot of the Durban Book Fair NPO founded five years ago to support Durban as Africa’s only UNESCO city of literature. “Our main target was to make a dent in the jobs crisis in our country by upskilling unemployed and vulnerable people to take advantage of opportunities in the book trade,” says DBF chairperson Zandile Qono.
A dozen people were put through their paces earlier in the week in a training session that ranged from understanding collectable books to financial management and customer service.
Qono added that the bookselling project has spurred different incarnations with partner organisations around KwaZulu-Natal with great success. The volunteer NPO hosts the second Durban International Book Fair (DIBF2023) at The Globe at Suncoast on 9-13 August. Register for DIBF2023 here: https://forms.gle/gi4dvg9EpSpAY9FZA
Fellow trustee, Max Singh pointed out that Booksellers of Mzansi was designed to make young people “job creators rather than job seekers”. Those sentiments were echoed by project participant, Thulasizwe Masango: “This looks like just a trolley and table but it’s my own small business and it’s going to grow into something big.”
Qono said that funding from the Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) has enabled the NPO to offer the booksellers branded gazebos and workwear while their book stock comes from members of the public clearing out their bookshelves or garages.
Various shopping malls have offered the booksellers free spaces as part of their corporate social responsibility. The project has zero administration or staff costs and the booksellers keep every cent they earn from selling the donated books. One can pick up a bestseller for as little as R10.
Esther Phooko who has an eye-catching book stall at a Pick n Pay Durban North praised the generosity of her hosts: “I feel so welcome by both the managers and the customers. My life is very different now as I can look after myself and send money home to feed others.”
Heritage publisher Anivesh Singh of Micromega volunteers as administrator of the project linking the booksellers with people offering book donations and pickups. Companies and stores keen on offering spaces for the booksellers to trade may reach him on 083 778 1991 or anivesh@mweb.co.za.
In a climate of rampant unemployment and frequent despair, hope springs eternal with the Booksellers of Mzansi bringing joy to the previously unemployed and readers alike..