Mandela Day in Education: A Call - Six Ideas to Step up for Education on Mandela Day

Mandela Day is an annual celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela and a global call to action to change the world we live in.

Last year, on the first global Mandela Day, people from all walks of life took the future into their own hands, volunteering their time and energy to improve the communities in which they live.

As we celebrate South Africa’s successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ and children countrywide return to their schools, we call on the people of South Africa to prepare for Mandela Day with education top of mind.

Prepare for Mandela Day

Organise your family, friends, colleagues, schools or congregations and spend at least 67 minutes enriching the life of a child.

It is a government’s responsibility to ensure all children have access to quality education – but they cannot do so alone. We must all work together to secure the future of our children.

The Nelson Mandela Institute at the University of Fort Hare was launched to take Mr Mandela’s work in education and rural development forward. Here are a few ideas, from the Institute and the National Department of Basic Education, how you can make a difference in the early schooling of South Africa’s children.

For more information about Mandela Day visit www.mandeladay.com

For posters listing the "big six ideas" in English click here and for isiXhosa click here.

"It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to quality education. Those who do not believe this have small imaginations." Mr Mandela, 2007

Idea 1: Create safe and cheery schools

• Many crèches and schools are not safe, warm or cheerful. Find ways to refurbish, paint and decorate classrooms. Think of how you can use colours to brighten up a room!
• Dala izikolo ezikuselekileyo nezinikisa umdla/ezonwabileyo

Idea 2: Make and donate toys

• Many crèches and classrooms lack educational toys like puzzles and blocks. Make some blocks or another toy for a local crèche or classroom.
• Yenza kwaye uqokelele izinto zokudlala zemfundo
For more information in English please click here.

Idea 3: Give fun and interesting books

• Most crèches and classrooms do not have enough story books – books that make reading and listening fun. Donate your favourite children’s books or a story you’ve written yourself. It is especially important to provide books in a child’s mother tongue.
• Nikela ngencwadi yamabali kumntana omthandileyo

For more information on giving your favourite storybook in English click here and isiXhosa please click here

For more information on writing a book in English click here and in isiXhosa please clickhere.

Idea 4: Read together

• Many children do not have joyful experiences of books and stories. Read with and to children – at a local school, crèche, or a children’s hospital ward. Bring together people in your community to support reading clubs.

• Funda nabo

Idea 5: Tell a story

• Children learn by listening to stories and hearing words used in different ways. Tell your favourite story, whether someone else’s or one from your own life.

• Balisa ibali

Idea 6: Support play

• Children learn through play. Donate your time to local schools and crèches to supervise play during break times. Donate your coaching skills and start an all-play league for young children. Have fun and respect each other

• Xhasa imidlalo yabo