On 18 July, 2012, Madiba’s 94th birthday, UBuntu Bridge organised a community day with a difference in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, a.k.a. Mandela Park.
With a focus on Xhosa language learning for the volunteers, we then spent time with the kids from Ikhaya Lethemba creche planting trees, doing yoga, reading practice and finally singing Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela in his home language, isiXhosa.
Nelson Mandela in one of his first public appearances in office, on May 10 1994, strongly urged all the people of South Africa to learn each other’s languages:
“This is the best way to contribute to nation building and reconciliation,”
Mandela said. “Those among us who do not know Afrikaans must now learn to study this language. Those among us who do not know Zulu, Xhosa and Sotho must now learn to study these languages.”
UBuntu Bridge hopes to inspire people to heed Madiba’s call, and to do it in a fun and convenient way that brings prosperity to many communities on all levels of society.
The day was made possible with help from:
Nathan and Terror of Sibanye Restaurant – http://www.sibanyerestaurant.co.za/
Stu and Jen from YoYoga – http://www.yoyoga.co.za/
Robyn at Greenpop – http://www.greenpop.org/
Chris and Leticia at Paper Jet Print – http://paperjetprint.co.za/
Niki, Sisa and the kids at Ikhaya Lethemba – http://www.ikhayalethemba.com/
Andrew from Trashback – http://trashback.org/
Video by Gill at www.make-content.com/