Nelson Mandela’s Centenary and Mandela Day

July 18, 2018 | Campus

Statement by the Rector of St Stithians College, Dr Tim Nuttall, on Nelson Mandela’s Centenary and Mandela Day

As South Africans, we celebrate Nelson Mandela’s centenary in this month of July 2018. We do so with humility and gratitude and we pause for reflection.

Nelson Mandela is a hero of the South African struggle for freedom. Nelson Mandela is a hero of our young democracy. He did not, could not, do this on his own. He was supported and inspired by generations of South Africans with a vision for a better country, a country beyond apartheid: citizens who stood and suffered for justice and equality. 

In the spirit of honouring Ntate Mandela’s legacy, St Stithians College seeks to build a society of human dignity and mutual respect - through acts large and small, seen and unseen. South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy requires continuing vision, hope and courage. As South Africans we still have much to do to realise Mr Mandela’s vision: he holds a mirror up to us as we grasp the challenges and opportunities of building our country and its beautiful people.

To visualise our College’s support for Mandela’s Centenary we gathered on one of our fields, some 2600 students and 400 staff, for an aerial photograph of M100. Our campus is a host site of an iMadiba micro museum: a place for gathering, conversation and reflection. In these ways, we will keep alive the Mandela legacy.

The celebration of Mandela Day with acts of service and generosity is well established at St Stithians – each of our schools will be contributing in direct and tangible ways. 

 

Dr Tim Nuttall

Rector and Executive Head

St Stithians College

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Rector Dr Tim Nuttall looks on as the whole school and all staff gather for the Mandela 100 photograph 

 

Madiba Spirit at St Stithians

Mandela Day is celebrated across the world and is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world, the ability to make an impact. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth and St Stithians are united, One and All, in our goal to make it all the more special. Mandela Day provides us all with a unique opportunity to reflect on his life and times and to promote his legacy.  

As part of our various Leadership programmes, St Stithians strives to create anawareness in our children that it is “more blessed to give than to receive.” As Servant Leaders we encourage our children to live out the values as seen in the Fruit of the Spirit and to realise that they can make a “World of difference.”  In the words of Mr Mandela,“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return.”

In the spirit of Mandela Day, children in our St Stithians Junior Preparatory will be collecting soft toys, clothes and sports kit, well-loved books and tins of food which they will be donating to the Parktown North Methodist Church Outreach initiatives, the Ponte Nursery School, Animals in Distress, Ivory Park Nehemiah Schools and various children’s hospitals. The Junior Prep staff will also be spending their 67 minutes on Wedneday 18th chopping up vegetables and vacuum packing them for the meals that Parktown North’s Methodist Church make and distribute to the homeless community.

The Girls' Preparatory and Boys’ Preparatory will be collecting clothing, shoes, food and toiletries which will be donated to Child Headed Homes in Alexandra, Ivory Park Primary School and Growing Champions and Beanies for Beings. This is a synergy initiative between the Girls’ and Boys’ Preps as all of these organisations cater for both girls and boys.   

The Girls’ College is collecting clothes for Albert Street School which will be delivered to the agency by their Community Engagement students as well as visiting Ivory Park and making donations. The Boys’ College will be taking part in various workshops incorporating community engagement, environmental awareness and active citizenship. 

Parents and staff of all of our schools have been knitting or crocheting scarves for the past few weeks and are hoping to meet the target of 67 scarves for Mandela Day. The admin staff are donating care packages to the aged.

As part of Nelson Mandela' Centenary, St Stithians is proud to be a part of the iMadiba Project, a global project celebrating Nelson Mandela and his legacy, focused on creating conversations for change through art.  St Stithians will officially open the eleventh iMadiba site and the seventh of the numbered copies on the 24th July.  To read more about the iMadiba Project click here.

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The St Stithians iMadiba Project site which will officially be opened on the 24th July

 

We thank you One and All for your contributions and for Making a World of Difference. Happy Birthday Madiba.

“The world remains beset by so much human suffering, poverty and deprivation.It is in your hands to make a difference.” Nelson Mandela (1918 - Forever)

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St Stithians College staff and students gather on a school field on a beautiful Highveld winter’s morning to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela in the shape of M100 – a time to celebrate and to reflect