Man creates library to give young people a brighter future

Updated Aug. 28, 2024, 9:25 a.m. | By Poelano Malema

"We’ve taken this site of trauma and transformed it into a place of hope."

An idle mind is the devil's playground.

Many children and youth are lured into the wrong things when they are not kept busy by good things.

One of the ways to get kids off the street and offer them a brighter future is through education.

A man in Scottsville, Cape Town, decided to change the lives of the youth in the community by building a library for them.

Terence Crowster says the decision came after he saw how crime was rife in the community, with many young people joining gangs.

Knowing the importance of having access to books, Terence founded the Hot-Spot Library in 2017.

The library started off with just 30 attendees, and today it has grown to over 700 members, including adults.

“This library is a symbol of rebuilding for future generations,” Terence told Beautiful News.

Not only do children come to the library to read, but they also receive Maths tutoring, mentorship, and lessons in recycling and even self-defence.

“The library is an opportunity for children to rewrite their story,” Terence told the publication.

“We’ve taken this site of trauma and transformed it into a place of hope,” Terence added.