Nelson Mandela – From humble beginnings to global icon

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others”, Nelson Mandela.

On a cold and frosty winter’s day, 18 July 1918, a boy was born without ceremony in the deep rural area of the Transkei. Born of the third wife of a polygamist, he was just one of 13 children produced by Gadla Henry Mphakaniswa Mandela and one of three children birthed by his illiterate Mother, Nosekeni Fanny.

With uncanny foresight, the young boy was named ‘Rolihlahla’ a colloquial Xhosa term for ‘troublemaker’.  The world came to know him as Nelson Mandela, or more affectionately, Madiba’, his Thembu clan name. From these humble origins, it is no exaggeration to view Nelson Mandela as one of the defining figures of the 20^th century and one who led by example, rather than rhetoric.

For over three decades now, Madiba has been an inspiration to the mission, ambition, work, impact and success of the Spirit Foundation, and there is a personal element to this relationship.

As the sponsor of the banquet celebrating the signing of the new South African constitution, Spirit Foundation Chairman, Ian Kilbride, spent a memorable evening with Mr Mandela. Later Mr Mandela opened a local SOS Children’s Village in which the Spirit Foundation funded the educational needs of a number of young scholars. When presented with a picture of himself at the Constitutional Assembly banquet, Madiba proclaimed with customary modesty, “Oh, I recognise this good-looking chap!”

But as we look back on the life of our nation’s founding father, it is also a good time to reflect on how his example and values are enshrined in the work of the Spirit Foundation.

At one memorable event held at the Cape Town civic centre, we saw first-hand Madiba’s affection for children. Viewing children as “our greatest treasure … the rock on which our future will be built and the future creators of our national wealth”, Mr Mandela also warned of the dangers facing vulnerable children in many of our communities.

It is this very philosophy that underpins the work of the Spirit Foundation scholarship programme and Early Childhood Development Centres. For over 32 years now, our educational work has empowered scholars and children from disadvantaged and underserved communities. In so doing, we are proud not only to have funded the education of literally thousands, but we have also helped reduce the social and economic vulnerability of these young people.

Madiba believed “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and our education programmes share this profound belief.

Though core to what we do, education is but one of three pillars on which the Spirit Foundation focuses – the others are community and wildlife.

Cognisant of his own humble beginnings, Madiba knew personally the corrosive and debilitating impact of poverty on the lives of millions in our country, noting that, “Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like slavery and apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.”

While eradicating poverty remains a herculean and unfulfilled task in South Africa, through our community programmes, the Spirit Foundation tracks and measures the positive impact we make in the areas of disability and community sport for example.

What then of our work in wildlife conservation? As a son of the African spoil, Madiba often found succour and comfort in nature and was deeply concerned about the threat to wildlife, noting, “If we do not do something to prevent it, Africa’s animals, and the places in which they live, will be lost to our world, and her children, forever. Before it is too late, we need your help to lay the foundation that will preserve this precious legacy long after we are gone.”

We could not agree more and this is the concern that drives the remarkable work done by the Spirit Foundation in wildlife conservation.

So, on this Mandela Day, we pay homage to our country’s father of democracy and thank him for his enduring inspiration.