The Graça Machel Trust, (GMT), the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, (NMCF) and the Foundation for Community Development (FDC) are greatly concerned about the unfolding effects of Cyclone Idai across parts of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The increasing death toll and numbers of women and children uncounted for is extremely worrisome. The devastation has left communities homeless, unsafe, without food, emergency healthcare and other essential services. 

This magnitude of the disaster is immense for the three affected countries to handle alone. In situations where natural disasters adversely impact on human life, the vulnerability of children and women is heightened most. So far, the cyclone has claimed thousands of lives in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, and over 7,000,000 people have been directly affected in the whole region. We therefore jointly rally behind an intensified call to action to save lives and meet the immediate needs of affected communities! 

Under the leadership of Mrs. Graça Machel, GMT, NMCF and FDC have joined forces to mobilize resources to contribute to the emergency relief effort as well as the rebuilding of the lives of children, women, communities that have been devastated by Cyclone Idai. We make a special appeal to the local, regional and international partners to contribute to our efforts in cash
​or in kind.

Donations can be done through the following channels: 

Account Name: Graca Machel Trust 
Bank Address: Standard Bank Place, 1st Floor, Corner 10th & Rivonia Road, 
Johannesburg 2128, South Africa. 
Account Number: 223662542 
Swift Code: SBZA ZA JJ 
Branch Code: 051001

OR 

Account Name: FDC Cyclone Idai 
Standard Bank- MZN (Local Currency Account): 1184233071088 
NIB: 000301180423307108821 
Swift Code: SBICMZMX 
Account Name: FDC Cyclone Idai 
​Standard Bank - USD: 1184233071096 
NIB: 000301180423307109694 
Swift Code: SBICMZMX

For further information on how you can help, please contact the following:

Hernani Sevene 
Foundation for Community Development 
Phone: + 258 84 301 3199 
E-mail: hsevene@fdc.org.mz 

Richard Montsho 
Graça Machel Trust 
Phone: +27 83 340 8976 
E-mail: RichardM@gracamacheltrust.org 

Eunice Motsepa 
Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund 
​Phone: + 27 (0)11 274 5600 
E-mail: eunicem@nmcf.co.za 

To arrange for drop please contact: 
Gwadamirai Majange 
Graça Machel Trust 
Phone: +27 66 486 5178 
E-mail: GwadamiraiM@gracamacheltrust.org 

Drop Off Address 
Nelson Mandela Foundation 
107 Central St, Houghton Estate 
Johannesburg, 2198 
South Africa. 

About the Partners 
The Graça Machel Trust (GMT) is a Pan-African organization which advocates for the rights and dignity of women and children; focused on child health and nutrition, education--especially girls’ education, women’s economic and leadership advancement, as well as good governance 
The FDC is a civil organization with no party affiliation, which aims to bring together forces from all sectors of society to achieve an ideal of development, democracy and social justice. FDC aims to empower communities to overcome poverty and advocate for social justice, and it targets women, the youth and children as primary subjects of change and development. 
The vision of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) is to change the way society treats its children and the youth with the following focus areas: Child Survival and Development, Child Safety and Protection, and Youth Leadership. 

Kindly note that the list of the required priority list and services is attached to this statement as Annexure One. The bank details is also attached to this statement as Annexure Two. 

We thank you in advance for your donation and support!

Annexure One: List of priority items for the affected communities 
- Dignity packs for women and girls (sanitary pads, toothpaste & toothbrushes) 
- Children’s Diapers 
- Children’s Toys and books 
- Blankets 
- Clothing 
- Food stuffs; non-perishable 
- Detergents 
- Mosquito nets 
- Family tents 
- Kitchen utensils 
- Water tanks 
- Chlorine 
- Mobile toilets 
- Reconstruction materials (cement, zinc sheets, iron bars, wood, nails masons kits, carpentry kits, etc) 


List of Services for Affected Communities 
- Psychosocial Support for Children 
- Trauma counselling for affected 
- Non - Formal Education interventions 
- Child Friendly corners and spaces 

From 2011 to 2013 the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) and the Ministry of Women, Children and People with Disabilities came together to create a platform where children could raise their issues. This platform was then known as the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament. When the ministry was dissolved, the Fund together with the National Department of Social Development and Save the Children South Africa collaborated and continued with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament (NMCP). 
Each year, children representatives from all provincial districts attend the children’s parliament, where they elect their peers to become ambassadors to serve for a year and represent their respective provinces. In addition to this, the ambassadors elect a speaker and a president that will preside over the proceedings. Over the years’ children have presented their declaration to government and leaders of civil society on issues that affect them with little response to their concerns. As a result, the provincial ambassadors, speakers, presidents and Efeng Bacha (the Fund’s advisory committee which is made up of children & you), have come together to develop the 1st South African Children Manifesto. 
The manifesto is a call to all political parties, government at all levels, private sector, Chapter 9 institutions, labour movements, State Owned enterprises and Broader Civil Society Organisations to engage, adopt, commit and implement the priorities of the South African Children’s Manifesto. 
The Children’s Manifesto is a response to the President’s call in his 2019 SONA that stated “Our programmes must be measured, first and foremost, by the impact they have on our children. Though they constitute a third of our population, though they hold within their hands the future of our nation, the voice of our children is seldom heard.” 
They cannot vote, they do not set policy, and are therefore easily ignored. Yet their interests must be placed at the forefront of our policies as future leaders of this country. 
The children will present to political parties and government issues pertaining the four pillars of section 28 of the South African Constitution, UNCRC, ACRWC, international, regional and domestic legislative instruments 
- Child Protection 
- Child Development 
- Child Survival 
- Child Participation 

Guest Speakers Include: 
Angie Makwetla: Human Rights Commissioner 
Sibongile Mkhabela: CEO – Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund 
​Theo van Westhuizen – 2017 Nelson Mandela Children’s Parliament President 
Venue: Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (Seminar Room) 
6 Jubilee Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 
Date: 16 March 2019 
Time: 10:00 – 12:00 
Media Enquiries:
Tsietsi Lakajoe
Mobile: 079 109 4093
Office: +27 (0)11 274 5624
Email: TsietsiL@nmcf.co.za

Kagiso Bonoko
Mobile: 079 768 8070
Office: +27 (0)11 274 5624
Email: KagisoB@nmcf.co.za

​The theme for the 2019 Children’s Manifesto is “Investing in South African Children”.  The goal of the manifesto is to hold Political Parties, Chapter 9 Institutions and Government accountable to the needs and wellbeing of South African children. In addition to ensure that the manifestos of different political parties respond to the wellbeing of South African children. The manifesto will also channel the issues of children into parliament and the different portfolio committees.