July 18th  is Nelson Mandela’s birthday. Everyone in South Africa is asked to contribute something for 67 minutes. Metropolitan Health Group sponsored 1000 copies of The Power that’s Ours and donated it to the pupils of the Trevor Manuel Primary school in Fisantekraal. A community with an alarmingly high unemployment rate. I was asked to speak there to help inspire the youth. It turned out to be a day where the children had so much fun and received so many gifts that they thought that Christmas had come early.

Below is the press release that appears in various different publications.

Press Release: 18 July 2012

‘Unleashing the power’ in Fisantekraal this Mandela Day

“The Power that’s Ours” was the inspiration behind Metropolitan Health’s staff visit to Fisantekraal this Mandela Day.

Fisantekraal is an area which is home to a mainly farming community. Over 45% of the population are under 19 years old, most are unemployed and very few have a high school education. Many people would view it as an area without hope, but Nosipho Yedwa, Marketing Manager of Metropolitan Health, sees only its potential.

Volunteers from Metropolitan Health helped with painting of 18 toilets at the Trevor Manuel Primary School, planting of a vegetable patch – which residents and children were urged to maintain on an ongoing basis – and donated food, inspirational books and stationery to the community.

“We decided to partner with the Philippi Trust and the Department of Social Development to help with some of the community’s more immediate needs such as the upgrade of the school toilets. But, more importantly, we wanted to inspire the community to realise that they have the power to achieve their dreams, and equip them with the tools to do this,” Yedwa said.

The programme included a motivational talk by Gary Hirson of Calm in Storm, which is a social enterprise that promotes literacy to the youth as well as introduces tools such as: goal-setting, imagination, positive thinking and self-belief.

This was followed by a workshop by Resilient Kids SA, which empowers and equip communities to take care of their vulnerable children.

“It was a wonderful community event, which really captured our hearts. We are delighted that our involvement in this community will go beyond Mandela Day. We have a lot planned to empower the youth of Fisantekraal to create rich, fulfilling lives for themselves.

“We would like to thank our staff who gave their time to help brighten the lives of those less fortunate, the Department of Social Development and the Western Cape Department of Education for partnering with us to make this day a success,”