The year is slowly drawing to a close and as we try to access our last reserves for that final push, it’s an opportune moment to pause, reflect and do an audit of the victories, challenges and missed opportunities during 2024.
Focusing on the archive and research department, the year was categorised by processing of collections acquired between 2021 and 2024 in order to make them accessible. Among them is a collection by Luli Callinicos, a retired social historian and author. The work of digitising the archives, responding to enquiries and preserving the archive objects is ongoing as we strive towards ensuring the availability of the archive online. A portion of the routine work that we do involves the authentication of Nelson Mandela quotes and providing information and assistance to researchers through the archive.
We showed two temporary exhibitions this year. The first, Named after Nelson was shown in April and it highlighted places named after Nelson Mandela in Gauteng and introduced the concept of graphic heritage. The second exhibition, Our Shared Humanity in Action, opened in October and reflects on the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid.
Our outreach programme, Making Reading Fun, where reading is presented as an interactive activity for children, reached more than 200 children from disadvantaged communities. The number of visitors to the Nelson Mandela Foundation has been increasing steadily through the Red Bus and tour guides are choosing the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory as a must-visit on their itineraries.
These were some of the highlights of year. Interesting projects and proposals always find their way to the archives. One such project is a children’s book proposal, as well as a travelling competition and documentaries. These projects are scrutinised and some turned down, depending on alignment with the strategic plan of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
Technological and financial challenges hampered the achievement of goals set at the beginning of the year and ways to circumvent them proved daunting. The replacement of outdated exhibition equipment is costly and technology is constantly evolving which makes it difficult for digital preservation.
What is clear from the recollection of the year is that the interest in the archives and particularly the Nelson Mandela Foundation has not declined. This is evident with the increase in local and international visitors, enquiries, and in the number of proposals we received.
The year has had its challenges with the restructuring that took place in May. This has affected the working dynamics of each and every department, both positively and negatively. All things considered, the lessons learned during the year can only provide the groundwork for better and a more intentional planning for the next year.