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By Bontle Lekgoathi - Child Safety and Protection Programme Project Officer
Violence against women and girls can take many forms: physical, sexual, economic, and psychological. All of these are a violation of human dignity and human rights, and have long-lasting consequences for both the survivors and their communities. It is for this reason, that the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) has organised our Child Safety and Protection Programme (CSP). The CSP wants a safer learning, teaching and living environment. We do this by establishing child safety interventions. As part of the focus, we aim to reduce corporal punishment, bullying and sexual violence in schools and communities. It’s how we #ServeLikeMadiba. Our objectives include:
We value partnerships in implementing the programme, which included the active participation of children, families and communities. Furthermore, our strategic partnerships with peer organisations and government departments have enabled us to implement our programme in five provinces, namely:
One of these partnerships is with Home of Hope, who actively respond to the issue of violence against women and girls by creating a platform and process to help children and young people to be their own leaders in life. For over 10 years, Home of Hope has been helping girls who are at the risk of abduction, sexual violence and living on the street. Part of their work is reuniting girls with their families, using police, social services and municipal offices to assist in locating and assessing the reunification of family networks. The process involves:
Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, many children cannot be reunited with their family members, and Home of Hope becomes their new home. Here the girls receive counselling with the centre manager, Ms Khanyisile Motsa, who completed trauma counselling training. Mam’Khanyi, as she is affectionately known, has ensured that all her staff are fully qualified in counseling and caregiving, to provide a safe and caring environment. The girls are then also able to participate in yoga classes and life skill classes which give them the tools to manage stress and gain confidence in their new lives. An integral part of Home of Hope’s rehabilitation programme is ensuring that each child in their care will build skills that can enable them to break free from any dependence upon those who exploit them. The process usually follows this model:
With this support, the girls grow into independent and confident women who can fully participate in society, moving into careers that built a living for them. Some have graduated with university degrees and others continue to work at the centre, using their experience to provide more hope for girls that continue to pass through Home of Hope. Former President, Mr Nelson Mandela, has taught us that any individual can make a difference and bring change into society. The work of the Fund and places like Home of Hope rely on the public to take action on issues like Gender Based Violence. We all have a responsibility to speak out, and in order to end Violence against Women and Children we all need to play a part, we all need to #ServeLikeMadiba. As the world prepares to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, South Africans can do something to change the tide of violence against women and children. The South African parliament has put forward a call for the Children’s Amendment Bill. The call is to have every one of us to contribute to the democratic and legislative processes of our country. This Children’s Amendment Bill is an opportunity for us to engage with one another about the rights and responsibilities, safety, protection and wellbeing of our children. The time to act is now, to make input and let your voices be heard in shaping the Children’s Amendment Bill. The Bill is currently open for submissions until the 27th of November 2020. Comments can be sent to Ms Lindiwe Ntsabo at childrens-amendment-bill@parliament.gov.za Play your part, #ServeLikeMadiba, and make your voices be heard!
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 Click here to see Mampe’s Memorial Site
In a year that has already been defined by great loss, sorrow and grief, we could have never imagined that we would yet shed our most heaviest of tears. The loss of our colleague, friend, sister and advocate, Mampe Ntsedi, has left us most devastated and weary. On behalf of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) Board of Trustees, Management and Staff, we would like to extend our most heartfelt condolences to the Ntsedi family at this tragic time. Mampe has been a member of our NMCF family for the past twenty years and has made a huge contribution in the well-being of children and youth including advocating for the advancement of their rights. As Manager for the Fund’s strategic Child Safety and Protection (CSP) Programme, Mampe was involved in community development work for the past two decades. This kind of dedication and display of commitment is rare and is exemplary of the commitment our founder, Mr Nelson Mandela, had envisioned for our organisation and society as a whole. As you are aware, our organisation’s vision is to Change the Way Society Treats its Children and Youth. In Mampe, we not only found a colleague but also a champion who dedicated her life to its realisation. Even during the current pandemic caused by the advent of Covid-19, Mampe was concerned about promoting the safety of those children and families whose vulnerabilities were further exposed by the virus. Through the CSP Programme, Mampe, worked closely with her team and various partners on the ground, to ensure that those communities in need were not neglected. Mampe was a fierce advocate for children’s rights and a strong leader who never lost sight of our mission as an organisation. Her life’s work and the change that she has brought about through her work lives on in the lives of the innumerable communities she has influenced across various provinces in the country. We relay the collective message of sorrow and comfort from partners, donors, community-based organisations, children, including survivors of exploitation, and many others who bear testament to a life of commendable community service. Mampe’s absence is already felt in our lives but we hold on to our dearest of memories from the privileged time we spent with her. May your family find peace and comfort knowing she has left a legacy that has affected many lives and contributed to building a better tomorrow for our children and youth. May her soul rest in peace. With Love, NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN’S FUND NELSON MANDELA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL TRUST  On behalf of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) Board of Trustees and Staff, we mourn the loss of our servant leader, Mr Achmat Dangor. Our founder, Mr Nelson Mandela, handpicked Achmat to lead the Fund, the first legacy organisation established by Madiba in his presidency. Achmat would become the second Chief Executive Officer to lead the Fund from 1999 to 2002, during a turbulent period in our country.
At that stage, the Fund was still in its infancy and its mission was immense, as our country and our children had been gravely impacted by the HIV and AIDS epidemic. This was a critical time where Achmat’s leadership played a vital role to respond to the devastating impact the virus had on the lives of children and their families. Achmat steered the Fund with zeal, compassion and agility. His jovial spirit complemented that of Mr Nelson Mandela. It is therefore, only befitting to describe Achmat’s leadership in Madiba’s own words: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Mr Nelson Mandela He fortified Madiba’s legacy through his leadership footprints when he served as the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation (2007 to 2013) and a member of the Board of Trustees at the Mandela Rhodes Foundation (2013 to 2019). Achmat had an immeasurable impact on our lives. We are forever indebted and honoured to have been a part of his incredible life story. We feel your pain and mourn with you, Dangor Family. May your family find peace and comfort knowing he was loved and will be missed dearly. May Achmat’s soul rest in peace. Yours Sincerely, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund  Nelson Mandela wanted to create a safer world for our children to be healthy & thrive. Covid-19 has forced our children & those who care for them into vulnerable states. The Embassy of France in South Africa is therefore raising funds to protect vulnerable communities through the work of NMCF. On 14 July, the Embassy of France in South Africa celebrated Bastille Day (National French Holiday) in partnership with Trace TV. Under the leadership of French ambassador Aurélien Lechevallier and to mark the occasion, the Embassy hosted a virtual fundraising initiative to benefit the work of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, including its flagship project, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. This event coincided with the Fund’s 25 year anniversary and international Mandela Day under the theme #ServelikeMadiba. Inspired by former president Mr Nelson Mandela’s legacy of giving, the theme aims to encourage philanthropy and a message of being of service to one’s community and society. We are asking our community to #ServelikeMadiba and help us raise R500 000 for this initiative.The donations from this campaign will support the following activities:
This campaign will run until 31 July 2020. Play your part by donating towards this initiative on the NMCH’s GivenGain platform which can be found here. A message from Konehali Gugushe, CEO of NMCF Remembering our Founder Nelson Mandela  We awoke to a grey sun and a heavy cloud of grief, as we learned of the passing of our dearest Zindzi Mandela - one of our fiercest of champions.
As trustee of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund), Zindzi served on our board with the greatest passion. Our hearts are laden with sorrow as we try but fail to reconcile this loss that will leave an indelible mark on the Board, management and the staff of the Fund. Zindzi’s dedication to improving the lives of children on our continent was exemplary and an indivisible part of her staunch advocacy for human rights. Zindzi, belonged to all of us. As a historic figure in her own right, she wrote her name in the history books as an activist against the apartheid regime and a young fearless leader during Nelson Mandela’s years in prison. In our hard-won democracy she continued to serve our people representing the Republic of South Africa to the world, including in her role as Ambassador to Denmark before her untimely passing. We will always remember her fondly for her commitment to Madiba’s vision, our founder, to secure a better future for our children and youth. Today, we stand on her shoulders and her valuable guidance and selfless devotion to furthering the cause of the Fund. As we mark 25 years since our inception, there is no doubt in our minds, that our organisation would not be able to count its successes without her significant and immeasurable contribution. We could always rely on Zindzi to answer our calls, to lend her name to our work and to invite others to support our mission. It is deeply saddening that this loss occurred on the anniversary of another tragic day when Madiba’s son Thembekile died in a car accident in 1969. July is also a time when, Madiba’s legacy organisations, honour the memory of our founder during what is widely known as Mandela Month. We have been robbed of a chance to remember these moments and of a life that still had so much potential. Our prayers are with the Mandela family at this difficult time including her children she loved so dearly. Our thoughts are also with her friends and loved ones. May her wonderful soul rest in peace. Lala ngoxolo beloved Zindzi. Lala kahle, Madlomo Sopitsho, Yem Yem, Bhomoyi, Ngqolomsila, Hala, Zondwa zintshaba zingazumenzanto, Vela Bambhentsele, Madiba odiba indonga zidibane! With Love and Appreciation, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund On 21 June, we revisit a critical milestone for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund’s flagship project, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. On the day, three years ago, NMCH (now the second dedicated children’s hospital in Southern Africa), admitted its first patients. Founded by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, NMCH is a direct expression of Nelson Mandela’s profound love for children. NMCH is a 200-bed specialist paediatric referral hospital in Parktown Johannesburg, providing services including: Cardiology, Renal (including Dialysis), General Paediatric Surgery, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) and critical care in the form of Neonatal and Paediatric Intensive Care Units. These are supported by Radiology, Anaesthesiology and Allied Health Services. Join us in wishing staff, patients and families at the hospital a happy third-year anniversary. Watch the moment in the video below. And click here to learn more about the facility. PROTECTING THE FAMILY, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19 - THE VOICE OF YOUTH6/15/2020  Themes of discussion: TOPIC 1 : COVID 19 YOUTH SAFETY
TOPIC 2: COVID 19 YOUTH SAFETY MESSAGES Development of Safety Messages
PARTICIPANTS KWA-ZULU NATAL:THOLULWAZI UZIVIKELE
LIMPOPO:UMTAPO CENTRE MAKHADO
GAUTENG: AFRIKA TIKKUN UTHANDO CENTRE
NEW JERUSALEM CHILDREN’S HOME Boys
Girls
WESTERN CAPE: Women on Farms
FASFacts
Below are Drawings and Poems by NMCF Youth Leadership Secretariat  Youth Leadership Secretariat and Efeng Bacha Meet & Greet Background The Youth Leadership Secretariat (YLS) is a group of passionate youths who aim to leverage Madiba’ values to develop active citizens amongst children and youth, who will drive change in their communities and country. We are embarking on designing innovative interventions and platforms under the NMCF Youth Leadership Programme to educate, develop and support young leaders as they go about transforming their communities and countries. We are thought leaders who wish to lead the way in transforming the narrative imposed on children and youth in South Africa under the slogan, ‘By the youth, For the future’. Throughout the course of our tenure we wish to assist the Fund with its goal of ‘Changing the way society treats its Children and Youth’ by lobbying and advocating for and with the youth under three main objectives: Promote. Empower. Influence. Currently we are undergoing an immersive research and stakeholder engagement process, gathering insights on issues faced by the children and youth of South Africa so as to ensure the suitability and effectiveness of the revitalized Youth Leadership Programme. 2020 Highlights We kicked off the year on a high note and hosted our first ever meet and greet between the YLS and the Efeng Bacha members in early February. Efeng Bacha is one of the youth structures under the Youth Leadership Programme tasked with identifying and addressing social issues mostly affecting children and youth. The main purpose of the event was to formally introduce the YLS team and the Efeng Bacha advisory board. The event was not only fun; but gave us great insights on the issue’s other members of Efeng Bacha are passionate about. This event was instrumental in building relationships between the YLS and the members of Efeng Bacha. Since the event, there has been strengthened interactions and communications between the YLS and members of Efeng Bacha. YLP 2020 Milestones Khaya Ramoshayi of Efeng Bacha being interviewed on the day of the SONA at eNCA studios about the perspective of the youth on the SONA. When asked to comment, Khaya had the following to say: The interview went well despite how little time was allocated as many interviews were scheduled on that particular day. I did however feel like the interview should’ve happened preferable after and with more than one person (interviewee). Highlights in the interview included being asked:
Consequently I’d like to assume awareness on the Children’s Manifesto and the Fund on its own was raised efficiently.
The following is from an excerpt written about the launch: Media personality and author of “Africa is Open for Business”, Victor Kgomoeswana, was the conversation facilitator for the evening. He questioned Zameer about his motivation for writing the book and tried understanding him better. Zameer explained his motivation behind writing the book, “I wanted to create an inspirational story using a character that is relatable to the majority of South Africans. I wanted to show that through hard work, discipline, support and some luck, one can rise and succeed. I hope that it is interesting enough to encourage kids to read”. Ladies of the YLS and the YLP’s Efeng Bacha attending this year’s SLAY Fest, a full day event of innovation, networking and women empowering and learning from one another, with the special treat of gaining knowledge from various industry powerhouses such as Bonang Matheba. The ladies from Efeng Bach had the following to say after the event:
 Khaya Ramoshayi SONA interview at eNCA studios:  YLS and Efeng Bacha members attending the women empowerment Slayfest Event |
