Julia worked with Room to Read from 2012 to 2018, following fourteen years as a primary school language teacher. Funda Wande’s professional biography identifies this period as an important part of her experience in early literacy, coaching, facilitation and materials development.
The work placed school communities, reading materials and adult support in the same conversation. In Limpopo, Room to Read supported schools by establishing libraries, providing books and preparing volunteers with practical library skills.
In 2015, Julia approached ETDP SETA about the volunteers’ need for accredited training. The resulting partnership brought 25 participants into a Level 4 Library Practice Learnership, implemented during 2016–2017. All 25 were declared competent and received certificates in May 2017.
Her library-sector involvement also appears in the participant list for the 81st World Library and Information Congress
