PPC has given true meaning to the Mandela Day mantra, “Take action. Inspire change. Make Every Day a Mandela Day”, with its Mandela Day Literacy Project, launched in Soweto. In 2013, PPC identified an opportunity to make an impactful difference in the lives of many South African high school learners.
Many schools in South Africa do not have much-needed access to library facilities and resources to adequately support their learning and development. PPC identified Protea Glen High School on the outskirts of Soweto, which is one of Gauteng’s best-performing schools. PPC joined forces with the Nelson Mandela Foundation through the Kaya FM 67KM Relay for Mandela Day, and donated a fully fledged upgraded library facility and materials to the school to the value of R200 000, which will be handed over to the school on 21 October 2014.
The library handover will see Kaya FM personalities and key stakeholders spending time with the learners and encouraging them to make reading a part of their everyday lives, which will help them be successful in the future. The Gift of the Givers' feeding-scheme initiative will also be giving meal packs to the pupils at the launch.
PPC was the first corporate to have registered more than 20 teams for the inaugural Kaya FM 67KM Relay for Mandela Day in 2013, and ensured that through the relay, it fulfilled one of Nelson Mandela’s key pillars – education.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
Mzansi’s youth played a pivotal role in bringing peace and democracy to our country, a fact this nation remembers on Youth Day, but PPC keeps Tata’s legacy alive beyond Youth Month and Nelson Mandela International Day.
“Literacy in schools from a primary level is imperative as more children are able to complete high school, opening opportunities of tertiary education and better employment prospects," comments PPC Head of CSI, Francie Shonhiwa.
“It is the youth of South Africa who will build a better future for our country, one that remains free of racial discrimination and prejudice,” says Greg Maloka, MD of Kaya FM.
“Like those who went before them, they too have a struggle to fight, but theirs is a struggle against social ills like HIV/AIDS, crime, drugs and illiteracy. Our success in future years will be determined by what our young people put in today.”
Says Chief Executive of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Sello Hatang: “South Africa’s democratic vision is about making it possible to give our youth a fighting chance – that is, the opportunity to try. Education is still the foundation of this opportunity. The most basic building block that holds that foundation together is still literacy.
"At the dawn of the 21st century, in a world where knowledge truly is power and literacy is the skill that unlocks the gates of opportunity and success, we all have a responsibility as parents, as caregivers, as educators, as leaders and as citizens, to instil in our children the critical drive for literacy and learning so that we can give them the chance to fulfil their dreams.
"We commend PPC and Kaya FM on making this dream possible,” concludes Hatang.
Everyone needs a chance to contribute in their own way, so don’t just voice it or post good intentions on Facebook or Twitter – get out there and do something!
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For more information please contact:
Carmen van Wyk
Kaya FM PR Manager
Carmen@kayafm.co.za
011 634 9516
