Foundation gets Madiba great-granddaughter’s stamp of approval

Nelson Mandela’s great-granddaughter, Zenani, visited the Nelson Mandela Foundation as part of Take a Girl Child to Work Day

May 28, 2009 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation has participated in the national Take a Girl Child to Work Day by hosting one of Mr Mandela’s eight great-grandchildren at its offices.

Zenani Mandela, the granddaughter of Mr Mandela’s youngest daughter, Zindzi, spent the day learning about the work of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg.

She spent time with archivists, researchers, organisers of the Annual Lecture, 46664 staff, Mr Mandela’s personal office, the reception desk and the CEO’s office.

Zenani, 11, who is a Grade 5 student at Johannesburg’s St Stithians College, said she “loved” being at the Foundation.

“I think the Foundation’s really cool. Keep up the good work,” said Zenani, who said she was happy to see all the work being done to ensure that future generations learn about Mr Mandela’s legacy. “Everyone appreciates him, just because of who he is and because he helped us all,” she said.

Sello Hatang, the Foundation’s Information and Communications Manager, lauded the idea of Take a Girl Child to Work.

“It’s important that we recognise that women have had a rough deal and the more we can empower women, the better for the world. And the best way to do it is through girl children,” he said.

“The Foundation is a critical place for a day such as this because we would like our slogan ‘Living the Legacy’ to be realised in future generations. It is particularly poignant to have hosted a fourth-generation Mandela for her to see how we are preserving her great-grandfather’s legacy and making it available to the world.”