“The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund is proud to partner with the Cannes International Film Festival as well as Trigo Networks to present the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Gala Cannes.
 
Since 1946, Cannes International Film Festival has been the bridge between serious filmmaking and mainstream motion picture entertainment (Festival de Cannes, 2017). Cannes International Film Festival is “is the most important film festival in terms of worldwide impact” (French Embassy in the United States, 2019). Former United States President Barack Obama said that the City of Cannes has “wonderful hospitality and the beautiful weather” which is very indicative of the atmosphere and contributes to the longevity of the festival (Obama, 2011). Annually, there are over 80,000 festivalgoers in attendance consisting of actors, actresses, artistic agencies, authors, directors, writers, book publishers, film financiers, cultural organizations (art centers, museums, multimedia libraries) and over 4,000 journalists (Festival de Cannes, 2023).
 
Among this prestigious and very important week-long festival, there is an absence of engagements dedicated to children. Children actors and actresses make up a major part of the film industry. This night is dedicated to them and children everywhere, to highlight those who help and serve children.
 
During this special night, hundreds of people will gather to celebrate those who advocate for children from around the globe. Five magnanimous individual's work will be recognized with an award. We
anticipate making history as we support the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, to garner resources that has the trajectory to save thousands of children's lives through the many outlets including Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, Child Safety and Protection -Safe Schools Program, and much more.”
 
You can also get involved by supporting the work of the Nelson Mandela Children’s fund by clicking here

The State of the National Address (SONA) sets the tone for government plans and policy implementation affecting South Africans. The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) reviewed the address with the aim of establishing how government has positioned issues related to children and youth.

Since its establishment in 1995 by former president Nelson Mandela, the Fund has a long history of advocating for the rights of children including leading the development of a children’s manifesto by children that was handed over to the current president, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, in 2019. It is worth noting the challenges experienced by children then, are still relevant today.

In this year’s SONA 2023, the President Cyril Ramaphosa, made it clear that government focus is on prioritising the energy crisis. Whilst the Fund recognises the need for urgent intervention in this regard, we note that this should not be done to the neglect of issues related to children and that they too, should be engaged on national issues.

Energy Crisis

On 09 February 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa, declared a National State of Disaster, during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), as a response to the debilitating energy crisis characterised by continuous blackouts.

The President made quite clear that his priority focus for his administration, is the current energy crisis of our country, with the introduction of a new portfolio, the Ministry of Electricity.
While, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) welcomes the efforts to tackle the energy crisis, we note with concern the lack of young voices in tackling this issue.

Youth unemployment

The Fund agrees with the President’s sentiments that unemployment is a structural problem that needs to be addressed and welcomes the initiatives mentioned by the President in the attempts to reduce it. For example, the revitalised National Youth Service, The Social Unemployment Fund, placing TVET graduates in employment and supporting women and youth led SMEs.  The Fund also welcomes the partnership between the NYDA and the government that has enabled 3 million users to access the SAYouthMobi service application for learning and employment opportunities. However, such platforms need to be widespread to allow more youths to have access to them.

As a non-profit organisation with a mandate of promoting the rights of children and youth, the Fund believes in supporting entrepreneurial business for youth and advocates for more collaboration between government, the private sector and civil society in this regard. As a result, the Fund has made its own efforts in entrepreneurial empowerment through its Efeng Bacha programme, which is aimed at capacitating youth with necessary skills for employment and provides opportunities to entrepreneurial training and mentorship.
The Fund recently also supported 250 learners to attend the World Science Forum STEM Bootcamp in Cape Town, in December 2022, under the theme of “Science for Social Justice”, to promote science opportunities, resources and equal access to members of society, especially children and youth.

Skills development for children and youth need to be at the forefront and a priority focus area in the development of science skills. The Fund welcomes the projected R800 million allocation to the digital skills and tech sector, as its important to ensure children and youth are taught the appropriate skills for the future of the workplace, especially considering the growing fast pace of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Fund also welcomes the anticipated R1.5 trillion for funding to be allocated over the next five years to accommodate the new emerging sectors in our economy and the emerging renewable energy projects, with the increase of investments being made in the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape. However, there needs to be more details on which sectors are identified for investment, how the funds will be spent and definition of the metrics of success to enable the government to be held accountable.

Crime & Safety

The Fund supports the increasing of Thuthuzela Care Centres and the strengthening of the NPA, SAPS and Courts. However, again, clarity is needed on what the President means when referring to "strengthening" these centres. A clear plan needs to be shared with the nation on how government plans to ensure that those who commit serious crimes such as rape and murder remain behind bars. 

As the crime stats continue to increase, with more children and women being the targets of heinous acts, The Fund calls for more police officers to be trained and to be visible on the streets.

The president stated that government will produce 10 000 SAPS graduates, however last year the target of 12 000 was not met, proving that further focus is needed in this space for targets to be achieved.

The Fund also calls for a review of the training programme of the police. As highlighted by the president, officers tend to not respond to phone calls received on the emergency number (10111). The Fund does not believe this is due to a lack of human capital at the call centres. It is suggested that the police force needs rigorous intervention in a bid to decrease crime rates. Along with reviewing the training programme, The Fund recommends that monitoring visits must be conducted regularly at police stations, especially those that are in crime hotspots. Non-performing police stations must be dealt with appropriately.

Education

The Fund attended various public hearings for the Children's Amendment Bill, and in addition hosted the Portfolio Committee for Social Development in an online hearing whereby children from all over the country presented their submissions on the Bill. One of the key issues highlighted in all the hearings was the need for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector to be moved to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and for more funding and support to be provided to this sector. The Fund is pleased with the decision to locate the ECD portfolio under DBE as well as the plan to streamline ECD subsidies through the DBE to enable more children to access these services.

The Fund applauds the DBE for establishing the Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) Initiative and the Accelerated School Infrastructure Delivery (ASIDI), which aims to ensure that all the issues related to water, sanitation and electricity in schools are addressed. However, there is lack of evidence that 55 000 toilets have been built through this programme as claimed by the President, as such a comprehensive report needs to be shared with the public on this matter.

Access to higher education has always been a great concern for the youth in this country as statistics show that youth have greater chances of employment when they graduate from institutions of higher education, as opposed to when they only hold a matric certificate or neither. The Fund recognises that NSFAS is overburdened, receiving more than 600 000 applications every year, and has to be strict in its mandate to provide financial support to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, more focus is needed on students who fall outside the NSFAS requirements i.e. "the missing middle”. As such, government needs to be transparent and provide feedback to the public on the finalised Comprehensive Student Funding Model.

In April 2022, the Fund joined the Speaker of National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on her trip to Makhanda as she congratulated and encouraged school learners for their improvement in school performance results. The Fund believes collaboration between civil society organisations and parliament could elicit more positive results and welcomes government’s efforts to capacitate schools lacking resources across the country.

Climate change

A global challenge, climate change, threatens the health, wellbeing and socio-economic state of vulnerable communities, in particular, across the world and South Africa is no exception. Children and youth are disproportionally affected by climate change. The KwaZulu-Natal floods resulted in devastating deaths of more than 50 children, with more children being displaced, and facing limited access to water and basic services.

The Fund notes with concern, that the presidential address did not include any plans to further support the affected children and youth in the region, who  are still in need of rehabilitation and psychosocial support following the floods.

The Fund welcomes the President’s call to continue the transition to a low carbon economy, as this will present an opportunity for investment in other energy sources, thus increasing opportunities for a healthier planet, clean-tech and conservation-related jobs.

In closing, children and youth form more than a third of the population in South Africa. Research has shown that they are the most vulnerable when it comes to issues of safety and protection, health, education, unemployment and climate change. Thus, it is disappointing to note that once again the SONA failed to acknowledge the numerous societal ills that continue to impede on young people's growth and holistic development.

Considering the lack of  a concrete plan of action directly  addressing these issues, the Fund calls for urgent attention to be placed on matters concerning the wellbeing of children.
Children and youth should be prioritised and placed at the centre of all strategic planning and conversations. The Fund will continue to be a champion for children and youth and looks forward to working together with relevant duty-bearers, including government, to ensure that society changes the way it treats its children and youth.
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The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) is a social development agency founded by former president, Mr Nelson Mandela in 1995. In line with its vision to Change the Way Society Treats its Children and youth, the Fund’s mission is to give voice and dignity to the African child by building a rights-based movement. The organisation’s strategic programmes include, Child Safety and Protection, Child Survival Development and Thriving, Sustainable Livelihoods, Youth Leadership and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg.

It is with great pleasure that the Board of Trustees (the Board) at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) announce the appointment of Dr Linda Ncube-Nkomo as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective 03 January 2023.

Dr Ncube-Nkomo has extensive experience in business, the development and consulting sectors, amongst others, where she has served in executive and directorship capacities for almost two decades. In her most recent role, Dr Ncube-Nkomo led the New Love Life Trust as CEO for five years and was previously the Chief Financial Officer for two-and-a-half years. She has served on several boards, including the Old Mutual Foundation, where she currently serves as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.

The Board would like to extend its gratitude to Dr Stanley Maphosa, for leading the Fund as Interim CEO, since June 2022.

Chairperson of the Board, Judge Yvonne Mokgoro, says, “This is a new chapter for the Fund that promises to bring about a new approach to our work with a leader who has gained the confidence of the Board in leading the Fund forward. We would like to thank Dr Maphosa for steering our organisation during this transition in the past six months. He will resume his position as Chief Programmes Officer at the start of the CEO’s tenure.”

Dr Ncube-Nkomo says she feels honoured to take the helm as CEO at the legacy institution. “The Fund holds Madiba’s passion for children at its core and has a great history of changing the lives of vulnerable children across the country. This legacy continues today and it is my privilege to work together with the various teams, doing amazing work on the ground, to enable greater impact to those who need it the most.” 

The Fund launched its 2022 – 2017 strategy, Legacy in Action, which focuses on intensifying interventions related to child health, safety, economic resilience, youth leadership and empowerment.

Dr Ncube-Nkomo says that the strategy remains key to guiding the organisation’s activities in the next four years. “Children in our country remain vulnerable to various socio-economic factors including the advent of Covid-19 and its ramifications which continue to pose a great threat to their wellbeing. Our goal as an organisation will be to have a footprint in the most isolated of areas and those children who remain forgotten. I look forward to engaging with the Fund’s donors, partners and stakeholders in taking this mission forward.”

By Dr Stanley Maphosa

The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund joins representatives of various non-governmental organisations or Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nairobi, Kenya. The objective is to learn why it is important for civil society to register and take part in the continent-wide process of elections into the fourth Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) permanent general assembly. The hosting of this election on the 6-8 December 2022 is a follow up of a decision of the ECOSOCC Credentials Committee and African Union Commission (AUC) Interdepartmental meeting that was held on 21 to 23 March 2022 in Zambia. The meeting in Zambia was also a build-up on the Decision of the 40th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council of February 2022.  The 40th Ordinary Session requested the ECOSOCC Secretariat in collaboration with the relevant departments of the AU Commission to launch the call for applications for the 4th Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC. The Fund responded to this call and went through a virtual rigorous selection process together with others CSOs at national, regional and continental levels to be selected as one of the organisations to participate from South Africa.
 
The ECOSOCC General Assembly is the highest policy making body of the Organ. During the First Ordinary Session of the General Assembly on 6 December 2022, the CSOs will elect from amongst the representatives of its members, the Bureau consisting of the Presiding Officer and four Deputy Presiding Officers. The Head of the ECOSOCC Secretariat, the Minister of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (Kenya) and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission are expected to address the meeting in Nairobi; Kenya.

Established under the provisions of Articles 5 and 22 of the African Union’s Constitutive Act, the ECOSOCC is the vehicle for building a strong partnership between governments and all segments of the African civil society. Its Statues, adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2004, define it as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States Under Article 4 of the ECOSOCC Statutes. ECOSOCC is composed of 154 Civil Society Organization (CSOs): two (2) CSOs from each Member State; ten (10) CSOs operating at regional level and eight (8) at continental level, twenty (20) CSOs from the African Diaspora, as defined by the Executive Council and covering the continents of the world; and six (6) CSOs, in ex-officio capacity, nominated by the AU Commission and based on special considerations, in consultation with Member States. Article 4 (2) provides that the elections for members of ECOSOCC at Member State, regional, continental and Diaspora levels shall ensure fifty percent (50%) gender equality provided that fifty percent (50 %) of the representatives shall consist of youth between the ages of 18 and 35. Members are elected for a term of four (4) years and may be re-elected only once. Since its inception, the organ has had three successful General Assembly terms and the tenure of the current Third General Assembly will come to an end in December, 2022.
 
The CSOs come from the fifty five (55) Member States of the Union and the five (5) Regions of Africa, These include but are not limited to social groups, professional groups, non-governmental organizations, community based organizations, voluntary organizations and cultural organizations form the ECOSOCC membership. The heads of state and government adopted the statute of the ECOSOCC at the third ordinary session of the assembly in July 2004. It defines it as an advisory organ of the African Union composed of different social and professional groups of the member states of the African Union (AU). ECOSOCC is mandated to actively engage the civil society in the processes and work of the African Union, particularly about Africa’s integration and development. Through advice, the ECOSOCC assists the AU to the effectively translation objectives, principles and policies of the Union into concrete programmes, as well as evaluating these programmes.

Dr Stanley Maphosa, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund attended and participated on behalf of the Fund. “Changing the way society treats its children and youth is not possible without a strong and inclusive framework that recognises the multi-faceted nature of sustainable development. It is also important to engage at multilateral levels like the African Union so as to create common understanding, respect and the promotion of the dignity and voice of children and young people,” argued Dr Maphosa.
He added that “For us at the Fund we would like to see ECOSOCC bringing a platform for children and youth to engage among themselves and with policy makers at continental level”. At national level, the Fund has worked with its partners the Department of Social Development, UNICEF, Save the Children, Parliament and Offices of the Premiers at provincial levels to support the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament for the past 10 years. The Fund advocates that civil society should be recognised and supported as critical partners in national, regional, Pan African and global development.  In those spaces, children’s issues should not be treated as by the ways or cross cutting issues that have no goal owners, plan or budgets assigned to them. Partnerships should be concretised between the government and progressive civil society organisations (CSOs) as it helps to build stronger and more resilient nations.   ECOSOCC provides the structure and opportunities for civil society to engage with member states of the African Union. Many policies ratified and domesticated at national level come from the protocols and treaties signed at continental and global levels. The Fund believes that ECOSOCC has the potential to be one of the best conduits for civil society to engage in the work of the AU as it has been designed to contain thematic clusters on various areas, from peace and security, trade and social matters.

The first UNESCO World Conference on Science was held in 1999 in Hungary- Budapest. The World Science Forum (WSF) became a follow up of this initial gathering by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences since 2003. The WSF has played a prominent role in bringing leaders of the world of science and policy together on a biennial basis to discuss the roles, responsibilities and challenges of science. It also presents issues of common interest to the scientific community and the public.
 
In 2011, WSF partner organisations agreed that the Forum should alternate between Budapest, Hungary and another host country. For the first time the Forum was hosted by Brazil in 2013 and then by Jordan in 2017. In 2022, the WSF is for the first time hosted on the African Continent. As the host country, South Africa intends to make the event truly African, inspired by the values of Ubuntu, which promotes the social nature of humanity. The WSF in South Africa is inclusive, as the voices of those often ignored will be heard in debates responsive to the challenges of the developing countries. The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (Fund)  brings the voices of children and youth as well as its implementing partners across South Africa and its thought leadership on youths and children in Africa and globally. Through its exhibition and messaging, the Fund upholds the fact that children and youth need to be given the voice and dignity that they deserve.  The Fund will interact and share its work with scientists, policy-makers, industry, science communicators, funders and embassies among other members of society to build strategic partnerships on behalf of children and youth.
 
In these unprecedented times that are marked by global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and persistent poverty the intersectionality and transdisciplinary science is expected to make a critical contribution to create a equal, fair and just world. Hosted in the country by the South African Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) the WSF theme of Science for Social Justice resonates with the vision of the Fund, which is about changing the way society treats its children and youth. The expectation is that the plenary, thematic sessions, the side event, the debates and the exhibitions at the WSF 2022 will critically interrogate the role of science in ensuring that resources, opportunities and privileges in society are accessible to all (including children and youth) and distributed in a fair manner.
 
The Fund expects that WSF 2022 openly discuss how the production and application of new knowledge challenges inequality, unemployment and poverty as it affects children and youth more than it does the adult population. The status of the WSF positions it to consider the role that science plays in advancing social justice.  The values of social justice like transparency and inclusivity should also transform the nature of the scientific enterprise and the scientists themselves so that they are not laboratory and boardroom practitioners but are more responsive to the needs of society. The Fund works with implementing partners at grassroots level where there are innovations that have not been harvested for societal usage. Research integrity as well as ethics in collecting data from communities and later reporting to them is very critical to the work of the Fund. Local level knowledge and advocacy material that has been obtained from the grassroots should find itself in the science advice, science communication and science diplomacy spaces.

International cooperation is also crucial in the work of the Fund, which is a global child advocacy, and development organisation that would like to see the advancement of the cause of science for social justice and its response to societal challenges. The Fund advocates that children and youth issues should be national, African and global agendas for which science, technology and innovation take the centre stage. To that extent, the civil society organisation from the developing countries should take a greater interest in participating in global science.
 

hold time. I also noticed that if my baby gets his breast milk then he gets much calmer than before. Breast milk is saves me money because  I only get a Sassa grant for my 3 children and all 3 children of mine are healthy and still growing strong thanks to breast milk."

during the day so that I can attend to other duties in the house. Whenever he wakes up from his sleep I feed him immediately so that he’s less cranky during the day. I love my baby and he is growing very well and I would recommend breast milk to any teenage mother."

me to buy every week. So with my second pregnancy. I went to my local clinic to seek help on breastfeeding, and the Sister started with the basic . She said that the moment  the baby is born I must put the baby directly against my skin and the baby must seek out my nipple and latch on to it and you will not feel pain at all. So when my baby was born I did exactly what the sister said and I never stop giving my baby breast milk. I’m happy and satisfy  that I don’t need to go and buy formula milk because my baby is healthy and gaining weight every day because breast milk have all the nutrition in it for my baby’s growth."

This Women’s Month, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) will participate in the Imbumba Foundation’s “Trek4Mandela”. It is a 10-day expedition summiting Mount Kilimanjaro - in Tanzania, to raise awareness about menstrual challenges facing the girl child.
 
“The Superwoman Club” comprises various women from different organisations who will climb Kilimanjaro from 03 August in the lead up to reach the peak on 09 of August, also known as Women’s Day in South Africa, to fight ‘period poverty’ which results in girls missing school due to a lack of sanitary towels.
 
Chief Business Engagement Officer at the Fund, Ms Nomthi Mnisi, who will represent the Fund, says that the organisation is adopting the slogan of, “Climbing Mountains so vulnerable children do not have to.”
 
This follows the organisation’s theme for its Annual Children’s Celebration, held in July 2022, which culminated in a fun walk at the Johannesburg Zoo under the theme of, “Walking the extra mile so vulnerable children do not have to.”
 
Mnisi says, “This is an ambitious and self-less task that we are undertaking. In summiting Kilimanjaro, we hope to raise the profile of children and place their needs on the highest peak in Africa as a statement on their behalf, to say that their needs can no longer be ignored.”
 
Interim CEO of the Fund, Dr Stanley Maphosa, says that this initiative serves as a continuation of the Fund’s 27th anniversary celebrations as well as its ongoing campaign known as #ServeLikeMandela. “This is a call to our supporters and the public to walk in Mandela’s footsteps and be of service to our society, particularly our children, whom he loved so much. We are extremely proud that Ms Mnisi is leading the way in this regard.”
 
Dr Maphosa also wished former CEO of Fund, Ms Konehali Gugushe, a speedy recovery after she broke her ankle in training. Ms Gugushe was set to join the Superwomen’s trek, as a patron of the Fund, before the injury which took place on a hiking trail on 23 July 2022. “We know that Ms Gugushe is still an ardent supporter of this cause, and we hope that she will recover soon and continue to help us spread awareness around this initiative.”
 
According to Mnisi, not everyone has to climb a mountain to show their support. “Nothing is more motivating than knowing that while you may be climbing alone in extreme conditions, you have supporters who are nudging you on back home. We hope that the rest of the country and globe will show their support from their various corners in the world by simply donating towards our cause, spreading the word, and helping us to reach that extra mile in the work that we do as the Fund.”
 
The Fund hopes to raise R300 000 through this initiative and the public are encouraged donate funds, of any amount, that will go towards preventing period poverty and supporting the work of the Fund across various facets of children’s lives. This includes healthcare, poverty alleviation, youth leadership, and child safety.
 
The organisation will keep the public posted on its progress as well as other initiatives aimed at highlighting women and girls’ issues during the course of August.
 
For more details visit https://www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com/trek4mandela.html

The Board of Trustees at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) would like to announce the resignation of the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ms Konehali Gugushe.  Gugushe served as CEO from 01 March 2020 and handed in her resignation, which was accepted by the board, in May 2022. She will serve her last day on 31 June 2022.

Gugushe will hand over her duties to Interim CEO, Dr Stanley Maphosa, who will act in this capacity from 01 July 2022, until a replacement can be found.

While saddened by the resignation, the Board would like to extend its gratitude to Gugushe who in the past year, developed a new five-year (2022 – 2026) strategy for the Fund, which brought depth to the organisation’s strategic framework including the integration of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in the Fund’s key programme areas.

Gugushe was also integral in overseeing the organisation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, mitigating its impact on vulnerable communities, as well as advancing the Fund’s advocacy efforts through thought-leadership and lobbying for positive change in legislation affecting the lives of children in our country.

Chairperson of the Fund’s Board, Judge Yvonne Mokgoro, confirmed that Gugushe will return to her corporate social investment roots.  “Ms Gugushe remains a champion of children and we are certain that as she embarks on a new chapter in her professional career, she will remain a staunch advocate of our cause.”

Mokgoro says that the Board has placed its confidence Maphosa, to lead the organisation through this brief period of transition. Maphosa previously served as the Chief Programmes Director at the Fund. “Dr Maphosa is well-placed to ensure continuity of the Fund’s work after playing a critical role overseeing all the strategic areas of the organisation since his appointment in xxx 2021. With his vast experience in the NGO sector as well as his passion for promotion of children’s rights, we have no doubt that he will take our cause forward until a replacement is found in due time.”

Maphosa says, “I have learnt a lot from my time working closely with our former CEO in the development of our new strategy and I look forward to the next month when we will once again work closely to ensure a smooth handover of her duties.”
Maphosa will lead the organisation’s 27-year birthday celebrations and the Fund’s Annual Children’s celebrations in July. The Fund will provide more details in the next month around these activities where donors, partners, beneficiaries of the Fund will be encouraged to celebrate this milestone.
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The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) is a social development agency founded by former president, Mr Nelson Mandela in 1995. In line with its vision to Change the Way Society Treats its Children and youth, the Fund’s mission is to give voice and dignity to the African child by building a rights-based movement. The organisation’s strategic programmes include, Child Safety and Protection, Child Survival Development and Thriving, Sustainable Livelihoods, Youth Leadership and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg.
For more information contact:
Nomthi Mnisi
Chief Business Engagement Officer
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
nomthi@nmcf.co.za
OR
Ayabulela Poro
Manager: Communications and Marketing
ayabulelap@nmcf.co.za
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
Telephone: 011 274 5600

On Saturday, 16 July 2022, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) will launch the Children’s Fun Walk as part of the Fund’s 27th Annual Children’s Celebration.
 
The Annual Children’s Celebration is a tradition of the Fund, started by its founder, former president, Mr Nelson Mandela, who celebrated his birthday on 18 July with children, during and post his presidency. The day is now famously known as International Mandela Day.
 
Interim CEO of the Fund, Dr Stanley Maphosa, says “Madiba loved children and wanted to ensure that as a society, we could take a moment to bring joy to their lives and celebrate them so they can feel appreciated in spite of the many challenges that they face in our country.”
 
After two years of disruptions due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fund could not host mass celebrations and is cautiously approaching this year’s event with a similar approach but some aplomb. Maphosa continues, “We thought launching a Children’s Fun Walk would be a great way to get our beneficiaries, in particular children and youth, as well as our stakeholders and donors, to come out again and have fun in public spaces following two years of confinement as a result of the pandemic.”
 
The theme of the event is, “Walking the extra mile so vulnerable children do not have to.” The route will include a 5-kilometre fun walk within the zoo to allow our stakeholders to experience the significance of walking for a good cause.
 
In addition to the great achievements of the Fund’s existence, its flagship project, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) celebrates five years of existence as the only dedicated children’s hospital in Gauteng. Maphosa says, “This is a key milestone for both organisations and we wanted to commemorate this anniversary as part of the work of the Fund and NMCH”.
 
To limit numbers, it has been decided to make this a closed event which will involve stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Fund. However, the organisation still encourages the public to get involved in other ways. “We use this event annually to respond to the needs of vulnerable children. The public can get involved by visiting our website and contributing in various ways by becoming ambassadors of the event and spreading the word or helping us raise in-kind and cash donations which form part of our wish-list (https://www.nelsonmandelachildrensfund.com/ ). These will then be distributed to our various implementing partners in need across South Africa,” concludes Maphosa.
 
Nedbank has been a key partner of the Fund since its inception and will once again support the organisation as the underwriting sponsor of the event. Mr Tobie Badenhorst, Head of Group Sponsorships and Cause Marketing at Nedbank says, “supporting such an initiative really makes a difference in the well-being of children in South Africa. For the public to join such a  worthy cause, all they need to do is, simply bank and invest with Nedbank by opening and funding a Nedbank Children’s Affinity linked savings or investment account,  and we will donate the earnings to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund on their behalf, at no cost.”
 
The Fund will continue celebrations throughout the month of July as part of its campaign for the public to #ServeLikeMandela. The organisation says that this is a call for everyone to “Walk a Mile” in Mandela’s shoes and follow in his example of being of service to others during International Mandela Month and beyond.
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The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) is a social development agency founded by former president, Mr Nelson Mandela in 1995. In line with its vision to Change the Way Society Treats its Children and youth, the Fund’s mission is to give voice and dignity to the African child by building a rights-based movement. The organisation’s strategic programmes include, Child Safety and Protection, Child Survival Development and Thriving, Sustainable Livelihoods, Youth Leadership and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Parktown, Johannesburg.
For more information contact:
 
Nomthi Mnisi
Chief Business Engagement Officer
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
nomthi@nmcf.co.za
 
OR
 
Ayabulela Poro
Manager: Communications and Marketing
ayabulelap@nmcf.co.za   
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund
Telephone: 011 274 5600
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