By Sindisiwe Tshona
Sitting in her office surrounded by children's books, posters, and educational resources, Jolene Tarr is taken suprise by having to talk about success, and pauses mid-sentence to really consider how she measures success. "I really can't say we've been successful because we've seen so many children", she reflects.
Her voice carries the weight of someone who understands that true change unfolds across generations, not grant cycles.
As director of the Lebone Centre, Tarr is part of a city-wide revolution in early childhood literacy. Tarr is doing this one story at a time. Her journey from occupational therapist based in Bloemfontein to community development practitioner in Grahamstown wasn't planned, but now feels inevitable to her. After years overseas where she married a South African man that she met in London, and then having spent two decades in Makhanda, she says she's found her calling.
"What I love about community work is that you're reaching so many more people," Tarr explains. She describes children as "little sponges" ready to learn. But she acknowledges mothers, women "who shine as beacons" while facing poverty, violence, and social challenges that would break many.
Tarr's inspiration is rooted in witnessing parents discover the magic of reading with their children, "How excited they get when children remember stories from one day to another," she says, her voice softening with genuine admiration.
Tarr acknowledges that change is not sudden; but dreams of a community where all Grade 4s can read for meaning - where bedtime stories are not a privilege but a routine.