Monte Christo Miqlat (MCM) recently celebrated the official opening of its library at Tiffany’s Community Centre, a powerful step towards tackling South Africa’s literacy challenges and creating brighter futures for the children of Paarl East.
MCM is a Val de Vie Foundation beneficiary dedicated to uplifting impoverished people in the Drakenstein area through holistic programmes spanning early childhood development, education, sport and employment. Whether it is food, shelter, job skills, health and social care, or safe spaces for children and families, MCM takes care of it all. The new library at Tiffany’s Community Centre is a testament to what becomes possible when that kind of community-rooted work is supported and sustained.
The opening ceremony was a celebration in the truest sense, featuring a song by the ECD children, speeches by aftercare scholars, and a saxophone performance by one of MCM’s talented learners.
The library was made possible through the generous support of Breadline Africa and the Bloom family from the United States, whose two sons have been the driving force behind the MCM Tiffany’s library. The milestone marked a double celebration for Breadline Africa: its 200th library and the seventh for the Bloom brothers.
Reverend Vernon Jacobs opened the ceremony in prayer, followed by addresses from Breadline Africa, MCM Miqlat, and the Bloom family, with MCM board members in attendance to share in the occasion.
This library will serve as a vital hub for learning and growth, from the 95 ECD learners and over 100 after-school attendees to MCM trainees, youth programme participants, and the wider community. The space belongs to everyone.
South Africa faces a serious literacy crisis, with around 80% of Grade 4 learners unable to read for meaning, a reality that makes community-driven initiatives like this more important than ever. The Val de Vie Foundation is proud to stand alongside MCM as it continues building the kind of foundations that give children in the Drakenstein region a genuine chance to thrive.
