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The Nelson Mandela children’s Fund (Fund) held a historic Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the newly built Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital (NMCH) in Johannesburg on Friday 26 August 2016. The NMCH is due to open in December 2016. The AGM kicked off with a closed session attended by the board of trustees and chaired by Judge Yvonne Mokgoro. It was later followed by an open session attended by funders and donors, government departments, NGO’s, CBO’s, research and institutions of higher learning and members of the public.  Members of the Board of Trustees at the AGM open session. Back row: Ms Lulama Mokhobo, Mr Mpho Makwana, Mr Gabu Tungwana and Ms Barbara Nell. Front row: Miss Onkgodisitse Mokonyane, Ms Irene Menell, Ms Shirley Mabusela and Judge Yvonne Mokgoro The open session started with a panel discussion comprising of programme specialists from the Fund and some implementing partners, namely the Teddy Bear Clinic, Kwazulu Regional Christian Council, Education With Enterprise Trust (EWET) and Diepsloot based Southern Africa Youth Project.  Panel: From left: Mampe Ntsedi of the Fund, Mamahase Mosheshe (EWET), Clifford Legodi (South African Youth Projects), Mxolisi Nguswa (KRCC), Shadi Nyokong (the Fund), Shaida Omar (Teddy Bear Clinic) The open session was interactive with panellists and the audience engaging on variety of issues affecting children and youth. Topics included child safety and protection, youth development and empowerment; and sustainable livelihoods by strengthening families and communities economically. Here is what those present had to say about their experience in working with the Fund:  Shaida Omar: Teddy Bear Clinic “As the Teddy Bear Clinic for Children, we have an excellent partnership with the Fund, and one great achievement is an intervention in the judicial processes involving children. I don’t know how many of you have been in the actual court and experienced the anxiety that comes with such an environment, now just imagine in the case of children who have to testify against perpetrators of abuses against them. Our success in training paralegals to support children and families in court situations has brought dignity and amplified the voice of children.” – Shaida Omar  Mamahase Mosheshe of EWET “When we started, we thought we were the best organisation we could be, but in our interaction with the Fund, our organisation was transformed from good to great through capacity building in areas of governance, operational efficiency and prudent financial controls. These empowerment and development programme have benefitted our organisation immensely. Our entrepreneurship programme is now aligned with the education curriculum, and our youth have achieved successes in operating small businesses. We are continuing our work of influencing policy in the interest of developing young entrepreneurs and in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Department of Education.”- Mamahase Mosheshe  Clifford Legodi – Former beneficiary and now employed by South Africa Youth Project in Diepsloot “I’m deeply honoured to be in the presence of distinguished guests who have achieved so much in their respective careers. I’m also grateful for this opportunity to present the work we do in preparing young people for career development. We empower young people of Diepsloot through skills development in computer literacy, professional etiquette relating to career development. We thank the Fund for the support and mentorship in the growth of our organisation. We now have a presence in Limpopo. It is my personal goal to make a difference in the youth, not only of Diepsloot but of other communities as well. The narrative about Diepsloot is about crime and unruliness, but there is a lot of amazing things that young people are doing in the community, and this success stories like ours must be told.” – Clifford Legodi  Judge Yvonne Mokgoro – the Fund’s Board Chair “I feel so good to see, hear and realise how all of us can do in the interest of children. After Madiba’s release from prison after 27 years, and seeing children sleeping under a bridge, that was a strong enough reason to start the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. I thank the implementing partners because they are the foot soldiers of Madiba’s dream in communities. Our coming together from different organisations by Madibas’dream is not by accident. There is a purpose for all of us and I know it comes from within, it comes from the heart, it comes from the soul. We need to continue with Madiba’s vision of changing the way society treats its children.” –Judge Yvonne Mokgoro: the Fund’s Board Chai
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