MANDELA Month in South Africa gathered velocity on International Nelson Mandela Day with the launch of a book intended for the young at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund offices in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.
An initiative of the United Nations in South Africa, in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Graca Machel Trust – the event had representatives from the afore-mentioned entities as well as children from various schools gather at one of the landmarks continuing the late statesman’s legacies.
Titled, Thando and Freddy’s Big Adventure with Nelson Mandela for People, for Planet – the book’s narrative follows the protagonist duo of Thando and Freddy – two cousins attending primary school – on a journey connecting Madiba’s values to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Referred to as SDGs, they are 17 goals which countries around the world created to make life better for everyone by protecting the planet, improving health and education, reducing poverty, promoting peace, and ensuring no one is left out.
In the book, those are listed as: no poverty; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions and partnerships for the goals.
The book takes readers along a storyline through which the cousins encounter scenarios such as the protection of fauna and flora which require their pro-active involvement and incidents such as bullying at schools, which sought interventions.
While such scenes unfold and a question contained within a cloud-like marker at the head of most of the pages is repeatedly posed as to, What You Can Do To Make The World a Better Place, a bar located at the pages’ bottom limning an image of ‘Tata Madiba’ features quotations from the sagely one, offering panaceas to whichever posers confront the youngsters.
For instance, when the cousins come across a leaking water tap while on their way home from school, Thando remarked, “Madiba taught us to protect what gives life,” while they closed it. In an illustration presented as addressing the goal about clean water and sanitation – Madiba is then featured resonating: “All over the world, water is regarded as precious as life itself.”
The hint of a synergy invisibly permeating between the cousins and Madiba towards the realization of the set goals is defined within a context of two well-meaning children being guided along their journey by a Nelson Mandela cast in a deity-like role in the narrative. (At the conclusion of their journey, Thando and Freddy are limned looking up at the sky while brushed by a soft breeze which felt as if Tata Madiba was smiling – from above – with them.)
Beyond the illustrated narrative, interactive pages consisting of questionnaires and a quiz are provided which readers have to fill in, so as to test their comprehension.
The book has been researched and compiled by the United Nations Information Centre Pretoria and features delightfully colourful illustrations generated through CHATGPT and complimented by easy-to-read educative text.
The day’s programme had kicked off by a welcome address by the NMCF’s CEO, Dr Linda Ncube-Nkomo who had drawn her audience’s attention to five of the goals which she mentioned connected closely with the work her entity is involved in – among which were those of raising children’s voices and creating platforms for them to be heard.
Ncube-Nkomo explained that the book utilizes Madiba’s values to assist children understand the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals – furthermore emphasising that children ought to be empowered to become active citizens who can contribute towards building a just, compassionate and sustainable society.
Thereafter, a key stakeholder Ncube-Nkomo invited to speak, viz Nelson Muffuh, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in South Africa, chimed in: “We must not ask children to dream boldly while leaving them a world too unequal, too violent, too divided or too uncertain to hold those dreams.”
“Let us give them the tools to become the peacemakers, innovators and bridge-builders our future requires,” he intoned to applause all around.
A reading session was allotted to some of the children whereby they read extracts from the book – highlighting SDG goals about quality education, gender equality, climate action and partnerships for the goals. The session was followed by that of a children’s voices panel in which they tackled the topic of how they contribute towards better communities.
Singer and UN Road Safety Champion Maduvha Madima entertained the warm winter morning rendezvous which was also addressed by the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guteress, via a video message.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Steve Letsike offered the closing remarks to the day’s event.
Image NMCF (Young and adult attendees limned during a book launch at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund offices in Saxonwold, on International Mandela Day.)
