Passionate about bringing books and reading to children all over South Africa and determined to help other women navigate life’s storms, author, non-profit trust founder and mother, Roslynne Toerien has found her life’s purpose.
“If you know your purpose and your ‘why’, you can withstand anything,” says single mother of three, Ros.
Not only is she the founder and CEO of well-known non-profit organisation, The LEARN Project, but Ros is also the author of two popular children’s books and is the KZN lead Provincial Support Partner for the Presidents Reading Champion programme – a government campaign aimed at creating a culture of reading in South African schools.
A former teacher and professional dancer, Ros has always had a heart for children. When she stepped away from teaching to become a full-time mom about 11 years ago, she decided to do some volunteer work, mentoring Grade R teachers in the Inanda community.
“It was then that I really saw the vast difference between privileged and disadvantaged schools. It became my dream to shift this reality, and so began The LEARN Project (standing for Let’s Educate A Rainbow Nation).”
LEARN is a non-profit trust aimed at transforming disadvantaged schools by establishing sustainable libraries and classroom book corners through donated and up-cycled books. To date, LEARN has donated more than 77000 books, established 21 school libraries and placed 303 book corners in schools and organisations.
Although writing children’s books was never something she set out to do, it was almost inevitable that she would, one day.
“I’ve always loved writing and journaling and value the impact words can have when used wisely and kindly.
I am proudly South African and absolutely love children’s books. As The LEARN Project grew, so did our need for books. We could no longer just rely on donated books due to the number of library transformations every year.
I started looking for books that were relevant to South African children, but a limited selection was available. I guess that’s where the seed was planted for this little dream,” she says, smiling.
Having always valued ‘story time’ at night with her children, Ros says it was while she was lying in bed with her little one, making up stories together, that she drafted the first versions of her books. Her first book is called The Rumbling Rhino. “I realised quite quickly that my style of writing was rhyme-based and the words just flowed naturally out of me.” Her second book is called Under The Boabab Tree.
Although she had the books edited and illustrated quite quickly, Ros says she waited until the right moment presented itself to publish them. “I was very clear about my ‘why’ for writing these books. I am passionate about wildlife and conservation and that’s also why I wanted the illustrations to be realistic and not animated. After the books were ready, I decided to push ‘pause’ and wait.”
Then, almost serendipitously, her books were discovered by Penguin Book publishers and were on the shelves less than six months later. The first print run sold out in a few months.
While she has had incredible success with both her non-profit and her writing, the road hasn’t always been easy and Ros has weathered a few storms, including going through a divorce.
But it was in these difficult times, she says, that she discovered her true strength.
“I think a lot of who I am today are qualities that were refined through the fire. I’ve realised that sometimes strong is who we become through the fire. That change and trials can show us a deep inner strength we never realised we had. That tenacity, grit and determination can pull us through the messy middle and that in the breaking there can be a beautiful remaking.”
Ros’s most recent project is a platform she created called She Is Rising, where she shares inspiring quotes and poetry to help other women navigate their way through life’s trials. “I began journaling while I was going through my own storm, and that was when I found my strength and decided to lean into the gifts God has given me and share them with others.”
Roslynne will soon be hosting journaling and vision-board retreats in the Umhlanga area, where she will guide other women towards finding their own ‘why’.
Details: @rosylnnewrites, @sheis.rising, @thelearnproject
Text: Leah Shone
