Claire Macdonald and Jen Bryson Moorcroft promoted reading in other organisations and schools when they decided to use the literary gathering to collect books and donate to those in need in the Buffalo City Metro.
Thanks to the impact of their work on the lives of those who have been on the receiving end, the duo was nominated for the 2023 Local Heroes awards by The Cancer Connection’s Sam Ramsay.
Ramsay’s charity is among those who have benefited from Macdonald and Moorcroft’s donations.
The Joy of Books Festival is the brainchild of former teacher Macdonald who created it in memory of her aunt who had a passion for reading and adored children.
After Macdonald thought up the concept, she approached theatre maker and playwright Moorcroft, who became the festival’s creative director.
Moorcroft told the media last year that the festival aimed to “create a positive space to celebrate all things literary, to encourage and inspire others to share their passion and creativity”.
The literary festival debuted in July last year and a second instalment was held in December, celebrating everything from books and poems to the art of storytelling, theatre plays, authors and writers.
The duo also launched the platform as a fundraiser to buy and collect books to donate to other projects in the metro.
They have collected and donated books to initiatives and schools such as Fig Tree School in Brakfontein, Fundasana and Frere Hospital’s paediatric oncology ward through The Cancer Connection.
Macdonald said their initiative quickly gained support from book stores and organisations which have donated books to them. These include Bargain Books, Masithethe and Pan Macmillan.
