July 15, 2008 – The Nelson Mandela Institute (NMI), one of the four organisations established by Mr Mandela, is celebrating his birthday by organising a school work party in the Eastern Cape.
The Institute’s mandate is to take forward Mr Mandela’s work in education and rural development.
On July 18, the public, and especially the communities surrounding Mthatha, Qunu and Mqanduli in the Eastern Cape, can join the Institute in an ilima lokufunda to paint, fix and tile the Phangindlela Junior Secondary School, just outside the town of Mqanduli.
In the tradition of ilima, when rural people got together to plough and harvest, the Institute hopes to gather people as equals with a common hope for a future in which all children have access to quality education.
The work on the school will begin at 8am. In celebration of Mr Mandela’s 90th birthday, young people will present poetry inspired by his life and future work.
For further information, please contact Ms Nomsa Mazwai, Nelson Mandela Institute, on (043) 704-7235 or 072 974 3099.