Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund
  • Our work
    • Child Survival and Development
    • Child Safety and Protection >
      • Background of the CSP programme
      • Reports
      • Creating safer environment for children in schools and communities
      • Creating safety through economic strengthening activities
      • Girls Symposium
    • Youth Leadership Programme >
      • NMCP Alumni
      • Legacy Academy
      • Efeng Bacha 2021/2022 Cohort
    • Sustainable Livelihoods Project
    • PAST WORK >
      • 2010-2015
      • 2005-2010
      • 2000-2005
      • 1995-2000
    • Reports >
      • Deloitte
      • Annual Reports
      • National Children’s Manifesto 2019
      • Media Release
  • News
    • Children's Manifesto 2023
    • Give Back this Festive Season
    • Name The Bot
    • Children's Celebration
    • Disaster Relief
    • Webinar Registration
    • Women’s Month
  • Opportunities
    • Call for Concept Note
  • COVID-19
  • Contact
  • UK
  • Donate
    • Pledge your skills
    • Donate
    • Nedbank Children’s Affinity
  • Blog
  • Our work
    • Child Survival and Development
    • Child Safety and Protection >
      • Background of the CSP programme
      • Reports
      • Creating safer environment for children in schools and communities
      • Creating safety through economic strengthening activities
      • Girls Symposium
    • Youth Leadership Programme >
      • NMCP Alumni
      • Legacy Academy
      • Efeng Bacha 2021/2022 Cohort
    • Sustainable Livelihoods Project
    • PAST WORK >
      • 2010-2015
      • 2005-2010
      • 2000-2005
      • 1995-2000
    • Reports >
      • Deloitte
      • Annual Reports
      • National Children’s Manifesto 2019
      • Media Release
  • News
    • Children's Manifesto 2023
    • Give Back this Festive Season
    • Name The Bot
    • Children's Celebration
    • Disaster Relief
    • Webinar Registration
    • Women’s Month
  • Opportunities
    • Call for Concept Note
  • COVID-19
  • Contact
  • UK
  • Donate
    • Pledge your skills
    • Donate
    • Nedbank Children’s Affinity
  • Blog

NEWS

Reflective note on International Mandela Day July 18

7/18/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture
Background        
18 July is a birthday of the late former President Nelson R. Mandela, founder of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and its sister organisations. Different organisations, individuals and groups tended to mark the day in one form or another within their own means.

The United Nation Declaration of July 18 as International Mandela Day on November 2009, on the year of Mr. Mandela 91st birthday, helped to release global energy and movement for good and to generally help those in less fortunate circumstances. This is in honour of Mr. Mandela’s 67 years of service to the human struggle for freedom.
​
To join the world community, the Fund has since marked the day by giving added attention to various causes that fall within its programme work and carried out by implementing partners.
Added attention to these causes comes in the form of placing them on the World Wide Web for interested parties to be familiar with what each project does and the associated needs to carrying out their good work.

What Mandela Day Means           
Mandela Day is based on the idea that if every individual dedicates a short amount of time to making the world a better place, there is immense potential for collective good to flourish. Mandela Day is a call to action for every individual, group, corporate, to take responsibility for making the world a better place, one step at a time, in response to areas of need within their communities and guided by means at their disposal.

As the Fund we encourage individuals to find initiatives within their various communities to do their 67 Minutes of service.
​Mandela Day is as much an energiser to the Children’s Fund. The joy of being allowed to be children, to play, sing, dance, dream and be lost in the wonder of the innocence of childhood that should be delivered from homelessness, poverty, hunger, harm, danger, vulnerability, neglect and diseases. Any assistance given and received by the Fund or its partners counts to make everyone who shares the vision of the Fund a fellow traveller and commits to the belief that Every Child Counts.
1 Comment

2017 Girls Symposium

7/11/2017

1 Comment

 
​In continuing with Madiba’s legacy of ‘changing the way society treats its children and youth,’  the Fund saw it fit to advocate against the increasing number of sexual violence cases in schools and assist in creating safer environments in schools, especially for girls.
 
As part of the Mandela Month commemorations, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (the Fund) hosted a 3-day symposium at the Wits Education Campus from Monday, 10 July until Wednesday, 12 July 2017 focusing on the wellbeing of the girl child and their immediate environments. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Throughout the symposium children were encouraged to bring issues that affect them within their immediate environment to the forefront. The Fund’s CEO – Sibongile Mkhabela, National Prosecuting Authority – Ms T.S Xakaza, Department of Education - Mr Malefetsane Mofokeng, Department of Social Development - David Chabalala, together with representatives from the SAPS and UN Women South Africa were some of those that responded to issues raised by the children’s issues.
 
Some of the issues raised by children included:
​

Access to Education
  • Lack of proper infrastructure
  • Lack of sufficient teachers in schools
  • Travelling long distances to schools, including scholar transport issues
Safety in Schools
  • Bullying and corporal punishment
  • Gangsterism in schools and local gangsters entering schools and doing as they wish
  • Male teachers being in relationships or sleeping with school girls
  • Dangerous weapons and drugs in school premises
  • Unsafe pit toilets
Barriers and other conditions that prohibit Girls to report violence in schools
  • Reporting family members who are perpetrators of violence against children
  • Breadwinners who might be perpetrators of violence and abuse against children
Below are some of the comments made by children on the issues above:
Pit toilets, lack of proper sanitation and sanitary pads are some of the issues that cause girl children to get infections or miss school during their maturational cycle. The Clicks Helping Hand Trust donated sanitary packs to all girls attending the symposium and various implementing partners in need.#NMCFGirlsSymposium2017 #Access2Education #SafetyInSchools
Picture
Do I feel safe at school?? NO

"Gangsters can enter our school and do as they wish...I feel the police are not doing enough to keep us safe. Some of the cops are friends with gangsters, some get paid by these gangster to look the other way." - a girl child from Western Cape (can’t be named cause of fear of victimization
To male teachers: We are not your wives, we are not your lovers, we don't want extra-marks/money we want a better future" - Amanda Mavata
 
 
#NMCFGirlsSymposium2017
#Access2Education 
#SafetyInSchools
​
Picture
​Raiufhe Munaka & Kamokgelo Madzivhandila -  Limpopo
Every school should have a social worker, teachers lack crucial skills that are important for dealing with challenges kids face.
Safe Schools= learners feel safe and free in the school (elaborate on this point)
Scholar patrols = learners feel safe at schools & are assisted when crossing major roads
Peace clubs = Help encourage educational activities among children & keep them away from the streets( this is not clear)
Picture
Picture
​Respondent: Department of Education - Mr Malefetsane Mofokeng
​​Department of Education has a 'Schools Safety Strategy' in place to deal with issues of safety in schools.

Issue of over-aged learners: 
Policy that should be followed is to retain learners only two times in one phase and not longer than that. From then onward other alternative interventions should be sought out.
​
Issue of Corporal Punishment: 
Classroom Management Policy document gives guidelines on other alternative measures of punishment.
Picture
​As part of positive change and motivation, Michelle Nkamankeng, a little girl who wrote two books at the age of 6 gave a motivational talk towards the end of the symposium.
"Girl Children like myself are scared in this country...therefore I would like to encourage all girl children to learn to speak out & not be afraid" - Michelle Nkamankeng.
Picture
Picture
​“Our children are our greatest treasure. They are our future. Those who abuse them tear at the fabric of our society and weaken our nation” Nelson Mandela.
Picture
1 Comment

    Categories

    All
    COVID-19
    Events
    Kids
    Mandela Month
    Pregnancy Awareness
    Tributes
    #YouthLeader

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    November 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

OUR CONTACTS

South Africa Main Office

21 Eastwold Way, Saxonwold 2196, Gauteng
P.O. Box 797 Highlands North 2037
Email : 
info@nmcf.co.za
Tel: (+27) 11 274-5600

Fax (+27) 11 486-3914
© 2021 Nelson Mandela Childrens Fund All rights reserved Non-Profit Organisation - Reg: 004-638