 Date: Saturday 27 October
Time: 10h00 to 18h00 Venue: Nirox Sculpture Park – Cradle of the Humankind For more info Click here
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September marks the annual Heritage Month in South Africa. The theme for this year’s Heritage Month is ‘Reclaiming, restoring and celebrating our living heritage’. Heritage Month recognises aspects of South African culture which are both tangible and intangible: creative expression such as music and performances, our historical inheritance, language, the food we eat as well as the popular memory. The Liberation Heritage of South Africa is characterised by peoples’ identification with particular spaces and places shaped by historical events and collective memory. We were saddened to hear of the recent passing of Mr Kofi Annan – and we join the world in mourning the loss of a giant.
Most notably known for his tenure as Secretary-General of the United Nations (1997 – 2006), Mr Annan was a lifelong advocate for the rights of all people. Having won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, and later working through the Kofi Annan Foundation to mobilise political will to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights, Mr Annan’s commitment to a better world was unwavering. Mr Annan’s belief in the power of education was encapsulated when he said: “Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” He recognised the magnitude of the youth population in the world, particularly Africa, and the far-reaching impact limitations on this youth would have on the future of the world. As a diplomat Mr Annan took his commitment to public service very seriously, and his membership as one of The Elders (another organisation that he also chaired), allowed for collaboration in many regards, for example his work with Ms Graça Machel (Chairperson of Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust, and Trustee of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund) on youth and child activism. We were honoured when as recently as this past July, Mr Annan joined other Elders in planting trees in Johannesburg in commemoration of Nelson Mandela’s centenary. He believed in the ability for humanity to overcome all obstacles – particularly those that arose because of lacking. He may have passed on, but, through his foundation, leaves with us the commitment to “fight towards a fairer, more just world”. May we all join the fight. Released on behalf of Trustees of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust, and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital. 11 July 2018 2018 Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund & Parliament Youth Summit: Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXZyvBk4t3Y 2018 Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund & Parliament Youth Summit: Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4SFNoPKuDc The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (The Fund) is extremely concerned about the heightened violence against children that has been sweeping our country. This goes beyond our children as incidents of violence and abuse against women has also been the order of the daily news reports. South Africa has a life threatening epidemic of femicides as women are becoming an endangered species on a daily basis. Statistics show that South Africa’s femicide rate is 5times more than the global rate and at least half of these women die at the hands of their intimate partners. https://africacheck.org/reports/femicide-sa-3-numbers-murdering-women-investigated/ The recent incident was yesterday where it is alleged that a woman was dragged from a taxi by her lover and shot to death. See story below:   Children’s Safety – A priority for All
As the country observes Child Protection Week, it is concerning that; we are currently experiencing high incidences of abuse in schools. The school is supposed to be a safe place where children are protected and natured. The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (The Fund) is extremely concerned about the incident that was reported in the Sowetan newspaper (29 May 2018) where it is alleged that juvenile inmates were invited by teachers at Tshepagalang Secondary School in Brits, to motivate the pupils against drug abuse. Instead of the intended motivational talks, it is further alleged that children were locked in the school premises and beaten up by the inmates. This extremely bizarre action presents many question and bring back the issue of treatment of children who are in conflict with the law who are called ‘juveniles’ to whom the state has a duty of care, but in this case were used as scare-crows for so-called ill-behaved pupils. The Fund will be following this matter up to ensure that duty bearers are held accountable for failure to provide a safe learning environment. Until the children are safe from abuse, bullying, hunger and system failure, we will continue to stand and fight for their Rights by upholding our founder’s vision of Changing the Way Society Treats It’s Children and Youth. Link to original reported story: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-05-29-hell-breaks-loose-as-inmates-attack-pupils/ #AMandelaInEveryGeneration #ChildProtectionWeek #ChildProtection&Safety  The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund in partnership with the Department of Tourism will be hosting Youth Summit in Cape Town, 9-13 July 2018 under the theme: “A Mandela in Every Generation”.
The Youth Summit will create a unique opportunity for children and youth to have their voices heard on matters that affects them. Furthermore provide a platform for children and youth to engage with different institutions such as Chapter 9 Institutions, business, political leaders and other leaders from the society. In addition the 2018 Youth Summit will also acknowledge 100 Young Thought Leaders who were nurtured by the Fund since 2002. These are young people who have participated in Efeng Bacha, Children’s Parliament and other various programmes of the Fund. The outgoing Efeng Bacha Youth Advisory Board members will pass on the leadership baton to Young Thought Leaders who will be launched at the summit to take over the discussion of leadership forward. The acknowledgement of the 100 young leaders will be celebrated at summit Evening Gala Dinner. As part of the 2018 Centenary Celebrations, the Fund it will co-host the 2018 Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Youth Summit in partnership with the National Department of Tourism and Human Right Commission of South Africa. The partnership with the National Department of Tourism creates an opportunity for exposing children and youth historical footprints on the life of Mr. Mandela Footprints. The children and youth will visit heritage sites which has significance in Mr. Mandela’s life journey as part of promoting domestic tourism amongst children and youth. Tourism contributes to the social fibre and interlinking of different communities across the country. Objectives of the Summit
27 April 2018 - Freedom day
The Orlando East Community, Religious and Senior Citizen‘s groups in Collaboration with The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, REPSSI, June 16 Youth Development Foundation, and The Human Rights Commission, will be hosting a conversation under the theme: “MAKING OUR COMMUNITY SAFER FOR CHILDREN” The purpose of the conversation is to generate ideas to building communities, and households that care for, protect and nurture children and young people. Guest Speakers attending the event will included; the Human Rights Commissioner - Angie Makwetla and the CEO – Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Sibongile Mkhabela, etc. The event will highlight the plight of South African children with special reference to the such tragic incident occurred at A.B. Xuma Primary School in Orlando East, Soweto where 87 pupils were allegedly sexually assaulted by a School Security Guard. The boards of trustees of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust and Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital join South Africa and the world in mourning the loss of Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Mama Winnie, we celebrate you as one of the women who stood when no one else would. As a woman, your struggle was as hard and as complex as that of many women across the country. We particularly remember you as a parent who stood with other parents – the likes of Dr Nthato Motlana and Ntate Zephania Mothopeng – when the children in Soweto were under siege. On June 16, 1976, at an enormous cost to you personally, you elected to stand in defence of school children in the same way that you had done in the 1960s. We at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and Children’s Hospital are forever grateful for your support and appreciation. We know that the struggle did not end in 1994, but it continues as we rebuild institutions that truly reflect our hope and aspirations for the nation. Until the end, you remained an activist and like many of us, a prisoner of hope, who believed in the realisation of the dream that is the ‘rainbow nation’. In as far as you challenged us and forced us to confront our bitter realities; we are thankful. In as far as you provided counsel to political leaders, making them see beyond limited party interest; we have been strengthened. In as far as you stood with those who remain marginalised even as we seek the new nationhood; you are our conscience. We, the NMCF and NMCH leadership can assure you that our struggle is not over. We continue to fight for a better future for those who seem hopeless, and to provide excellent healthcare to the indigent who are often invisible. In your moment of rest, we assure you that lizobuya. Lala ngoxolo Mangutyana, ugqatso ulufezile. Issued on behalf of: Judge Yvonne Mokgoro (Chair, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund); Ms Graça Machel (Chair, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust); Mr Phuthuma Nhleko (Chair, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital) For media queries, contact Lulu Herkt: lulu.herkt@nmch.org.za / 078 378 5409/ 010 133 0679  Ipeleng “The Crutch Runner” Khunou is a South African making history as the first runner on crutches to compete at the 2018 Two Oceans Marathon. Born in Soweto, at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 1986 with a rare brain deformity called Septo-Optic Dysplasia , he was essentially born without balance and his eyesight was also affected. Being the last born of his family, Ipeleng remembers the early memories living in Rustenburg with his mom, Violet and brother, Joy. He spent most of his years in boarding school until he matriculated at Meerhoof School. Due to lack of funds, he never finished his Marketing Diploma and stayed at home, and started freelancing and working for a couple of Non-Profit Organizations. Ipeleng “crazy legs “as his affectionately known to his peers aspires to be a humanitarian and a philanthropist through running as his currently the only runner on crutches. He wants to use his profile and this platforms to further raise disability awareness and raise Fund for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Donate to Ipeleng’s cause via SnapScan  Or by visiting our donation page: https://www.payfast.co.za/donate/go/nmcf
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