Over seven million South African learners lack basic literacy skills.This shocking figure comes from the Read Education and Development (READ), a project which, over a five-year period, has trained 13 914 teachers in 896 schools directly benefiting 800 000 learners with classroom resources and improved teacher competence.READ is endorsed by the Department of Education.

Its aim is to accelerate the listening, speaking, reading writing, and comprehension skills of learners in all schools throughout Gauteng. The non-government organisation has grown over the years and is now operational in 1 600 schools which constitutes 7% of schools nationally.The 1976 Soweto school uprisings gave birth to the Read Education Trust when students demanded better school, library, and reading facilities.  At the time, only one of the Soweto high schools had books in their library. 

From the outside, the attractive brick home in, Pretoria’s middle-class suburb looks pretty much like any other.  Inside extraordinary things are happening. 

Several people sit at a long table, scissors in hand, cutting string beans; one young man works soundlessly on a 300- piece puzzle, while in a separate corner somebody draws. A woman sets eight places at the dining room and pours green and red juice into tumblers taking a sip from the top of each glass before plonking in ice-cubes. Another girl sitting in the lounge repeats time and again “I wish you a merry Christmas, I wish you a merry Christmas,” though it’s February. In the kitchen a tall prepossessing young-man fastidiously prepares a chef’s concoction for lunch.

In the garden, a young man walks about aimlessly flapping his hands. 

What’s so amazing about these seemingly routine activities?;- they are performed by  people with autism at Lethabo Le Khutso, ‘Long Awaited Place of Peace and Happiness’' 

Long awaited certainly, but housing these residents can be anything but peaceful.  This is a home away from home for adults with autism.

Here 15 adults with autism spend each day till nightfall or reside permanently, visiting family on weekends or holidays.