“Freedom can never be taken for granted. Each generation must safeguard it and extend it.” – Nelson Mandela
Freedom Day is the most significant of South Africa’s national days. It was on the 27th of April 1994 that people throughout the country thronged to the polling booths, all strictly monitored by international observers and broke the bonds of apartheid .
Nelson Mandela said: “As long as many of our people still live in utter poverty, as long as children still live under plastic covers, as long as many of our people are still without jobs, no South African should rest and wallow in the joy of freedom”.
He believed that it was only through education as a power weapon that the world could be changed.
While our constitution is one of the most progressive in the world and encompasses that belief, decades later, the aspiration has yet to become reality. People are still living in poverty and children under plastic covers and the number of people without jobs has never been so high.
Hundreds of thousands of children across the country are not receiving the quality education to enable them to contribute to changing these calamitous circumstances. If we want to see and be the change, we have to recognise education for what it is – a basic human right as well as a driver of socio-economic transformation both at an individual and community level.
Education empowers and equips people with knowledge, skills and tools to live in dignity, build their lives and contribute to society
The Wiltons’ Foundation is working on the 4th of the 17 United Nations 2020-2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The 4th SDG aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”. with a holistic approach, we believe in working with schools in rural areas to help them achieve their goals whether it is revamping delapidated physical infrastructure, providing emotional wellness and support, ITC equipment and learning materials and resources through various partnerships.
We all need to act
We would appreciate and encourage support as businesses and civil society in tackling the huge challenge of educating the youth and supporting the teachers of our beautiful country and giving them the skills, habits and attitudes to become valued, contributing members of their communities. We cannot afford to leave anyone behind. This is the road to true freedom.
To explore getting involved and partnership opportunities, please contact Katy at katy@wiltons.co.za.
This article is a general information sheet and should not be used or relied on as legal or other professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact your adviser for specific and detailed advice. Errors and omissions excepted (E&OE).
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