On Wednesday 22 June, the Mandela Long Walk to Freedom team, actress Hlubi Mboya-Arnold and the Eqstra team congregated on the grounds of the Ebomini Primary School in Ivory Park to open the latest Mandela library.
School principal Jerry Mhlanga, and his team of 72 active teachers and tutors, 2 400 children and the governing body were anticipating a great morning, which we proudly delivered on in abundance.
The Mandela Library Project team arrived with 1 100 good quality fiction and non-fiction books courtesy of Rotary International, the amazing magazines and books donated from our generous suppliers, Joe’s Magz and others, as well as a full set of comics entitled Urban Legend (The Mandela Superhero) about a school teacher who protects children, donated from Norway.
Eqstra brought little tables and chairs, reading charts, colouring in books, crayons and puzzles to add to the library and make it a special place of happiness, relaxation and wondrous knowledge. They also supplied chips and cold drink for the kids.
In addition to 400 books from Quali-Naledi, which were in Zulu, Sepedi, Sotho and Xhosa; the kids also got 10 brand-new Mandela soccer balls for their soccer club.
The Mandela Library Project programme also supplied 90 copper bangles as a gift of thanks to the teachers and staff whose dedication and encouragement to these kids will make a difference in their futures as well as our countries outcome.
Eqstra CEO, Jannie Serfontein, quoted Nelson Mandela in his speech, saying “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
The Eqstra executive committee was out in full force and a few tears were shed by this dynamic team as they saw the difference and excitement their library was already making in these exceptional kids’ lives.
Robert Coutts, the CEO of The Mandela Bangle project, thanked all of our VIPs and VVIP’s (the learners) for their attendance. He asked them: “How did Nelson Mandela become president?” To hushed attention he told them, “The first thing he did as a little herder in Mvezo, a village near Mthatha, he went to school and learnt to read!”
Mboya–Arnold had the kids screaming to the rooftops their dreams of being designers, doctors, teachers and engineers. She encouraged them to dream big by having them repeating after her in unison “I believe in dreaming big. I believe in making my dreams a reality. I believe the world is my oyster, and I know that all things are possible with God.”
Eqstra has adopted this school and will endeavour to make a difference in the children’s lives.
Hlubi Mboya-Arnold, Mandela Library Project champion and celeb, Jannie Serfontein, CEO of Eqstra, with Ebomini Primary School principal Jerry Mhlanga