On 5 April 2014, HOPE Worldwide and its local community partner, the Philisa Isizwe Foundation, hosted 250 children at their kids' club in Diepsloot in celebration of International Children’s Book Day for Mandela Day.
The event was supported by the Nelson Mandela Foundation, KFC and Coca-Cola and encouraged learning, literacy and leadership development, using Nelson Mandela as a role model.
The children participated in fun, interactive activities that taught lessons from Madiba’s leadership example, and each received a copy of Long Walk to Freedom, the children’s version.
KFC, which supports feeding at the Diepsloot Kids Club, provided a healthy breakfast for all, while Coca-Cola, a long-term supporter of the club, is actively involved in such events that promote youth development.
The community of Diepsloot faces social challenges that affect children the most. Contributions by organisations such as HOPE Worldwide make a difference and give hope to an uncertain future. Dr Marc Aguirre and the HOPE Worldwide team strive to make a big difference in the community.
The Diepsloot Kids Club is a vibrant, fun and exciting environment that educates and brightens the lives of needy children through interaction with volunteer teachers. Students are taught various programmes, including Spell It!, Abacus Maths, speech, drama, music, and cultural and modern dance. The children have been invited to perform at high-profile events, and for international guests and volunteers from HOPE Worldwide USA, and The USA’s Angel Rock Foundation.
South Africa’s democratic vision is about giving our youth a fighting chance and giving every person the opportunity to try. Education is still the foundation of this opportunity, and the most basic building block that holds this foundation together is still literacy.
In world where knowledge truly is power and literacy is the skill that unlocks the gates of opportunity, we all have a responsibility as parents, caregivers, educators, leaders and citizens to instil in our children the critical love of learning so that we can give them the chance to fulfil their dreams.