Girls Can Do Anything in South Africa

Girls Can Do Anything has been published in eleven countries so far including:

UK, China, Greece, Korea, Macedonia, South Africa, Spain (Spanish and Catalan), Taiwan, USA and Wales.

Most of these will be released as translations into that country's language.  But who actually does these translations? And what impact is the book having in other parts of the world?

I spoke to Charlene Lackay, a Social Investment Manager and radio journalist, and Jaco Jacobs who translated the book into Afrikaans.

Here's what I discovered.

Jaco Jacobs published the first of his own children's books at the age of 21 and has translated almost 300 titles from English and Dutch into Afrikaans, among them books from Chris Riddell, Philip Reeve, Julia Donaldson, Jessica Townsend and several of mine.

He said, "Translation is a very intense reading experience, which I really enjoy. I love the challenge of trying to make a text sound like it was originally written in Arfikaans, while still doing my best to stay true to the author's voice in the book."

He says translating rhyming picture books is especially challenging as you can't deviate much from the original text because the pictures reflect the text so closely.  

When I asked Jaco if he thought Girls Can Do Anything would have an impact in South Africa, he said, "Oh, I think Meisies kan enige iets doen is already making an impact. I’ve seen people discussing the book on social media, and everyone is excited about the strong 'girl power' message. I’m the proud father of two daughters (7 and 4 years old), and they absolutely adore the book. Unfortunately, even today we live in a society where girls are often, deliberately or unconsciously, told to 'know their place'. And this is even more true in our country with its sad history of repression and inequality."

Jaco's youngest daughter says she wants to be a doctor-ballerina-farmer-author when she grows up. Let's hope she does!

Charlene Lackay first contacted me as part of a project on the growing number of South African girls interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).   Charlene is a Social Investment Manager, and radio journalist for South African Broadcasting Corporation.

She told me, "I actually discovered the translated version: “Meisies kan alles doen” first.  I was trying to source experts to speak on encouraging girls to take up STEM subjects and STEM careers. It was for an insert I wanted to do for International Women and Girls in Science day. I just thought it was the coolest thing."

When I asked her what impact she felt books like Girls Can Do Anything are having in South Africa, she said, "We need reading material that reflect the values and aspirations we hold as a new, democratic society, where our possibilities are not limited by our gender or race, amongst other things. Kids need this in their mother tongue! You can only have access to ideas if you can read and understand them. It is important to me that my girls get told, in their mother tongue, that they can do anything. And I believe this idea should be available to read, understand and follow in all our 11 official languages."

Charlene says that gender biasing in her own daughter's school was a significant factor in moving them to a Montessori school, which she describes as: "an environment where they could play soccer and be heroes, if they wanted."

Charlene says Girls Can Do Anything is, "...simply to coolest thing. I love the fact fact that the illustrations and the content touches on so many aspects of diversity. Even in the woman you chose as role-models. It offers such great entry points into teaching your kids about empathy and respect for others."

Girls Can Do Anything is illustrated by Ali Pye and published by Scholastic UK.
Find out more

You can follow @Charlene_Lackay on Twitter here

Follow @JacoZombie here  or visit his website