Basetsana Kumalo, Nelson Mandela Institute Ambassador

Mr Mandela has blessed us with so many gifts. Perhaps one of the most important is a reminder that life is a blessing – and if lived through the heart can change our world for the better.

In establishing this Institute, Mr Mandela has given us a lively daily reminder that none of us can be content until all of our children have access to life-affirming education, and lives of dignity.

There is more and more public recognition that our education system is not serving the minds and hearts of our children well. The importance of the work of the Nelson Mandela Institute is that they are undertaking the careful work, with rural schools, teachers and children, to find workable solutions for our future.

Our children are not failing for no reason. We have not yet established a system of schooling that is suited to their best future. Mr Mandela and the Nelson Mandela Institute remind us that this can and should change. There are things we can do to shift the lives of our children. Being a part of this journey may be the most important purpose of our collective lives.

I am honoured to be a part of the extended team of the Nelson Mandela Institute. I hope you will join us in supporting our journey forward.

Basetsana Kumalo
Extract from speech at the occasion of the launch of the Nelson Mandela Institute, August 2007