Nelson Mandela Foundation

Substance abuse and insufficient medical support top community conversations agenda

June 28, 2010 – During May and early June of this year a series of Nelson Mandela Foundation community conversations were held in towns representing six provinces across South Africa.

Common concerns emerging from some of these communities included drug and alcohol abuse, unprofessional treatment by clinic nurses and a shortage of clinic and medical staff.

Centre for Memory and Dialogue produces a video

July 18, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s Centre for Memory and Dialogue has produced a short video that highlights the work they do.

Culture can bring needed social change

June 14, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation’s HIV/AIDS community conversations facilitator, Motlatsi Lekhuleni, recently attended a dialogue in the Khakhala Village in Giyani in the Limpopo Province.

Below, Lekhuleni shares his views on the importance of taking local practices into account in order to facilitate positive social change.

Tensions in Leandra boil over

May 13, 2010 – “Why would they do such a thing? Here we are seeking solutions and they attempt to torch us. This is not the mind of a person who is really interested in resolving issues. These are criminals hiding behind service delivery protests.” These words, from a participant in the Nelson Mandela Foundation-supported community conversations on social cohesion, expressed the disappointment and shock that lay at the heart of the Leandra community after attempts by arsonists to burn the community hall participants had gathered in to discuss challenges their community face.

Voices from the community: Mbali Gumede

May 11, 2010 – “I had a boyfriend who didn’t value my opinion; whatever he said went. When the relationship started, we did not trust each other so we used a condom, for a while. Eight months into the relationship, we just stopped using condoms without even knowing each other’s status.

Socio-economic issues dominate community conversations

April 15, 2010 – Although socio-economic issues, such as poverty, gender violence and joblessness, burden many people across South Africa, proactive communities are finding ways to work together to alleviate their circumstances.

Tackling corruption and a culture of silence and impunity

March 19, 2010 – The second community conversation to promote social cohesion was held in Diepsloot on March 16, 2010. This follows on a conversation held in the same informal settlement on February 25, 2010.

Foundation hosts National Consultative Meeting

March 15, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation convened a National Consultative Meeting to reflect on the challenges and opportunities for building better relationships between South African and migrant communities, following their successful completion of 25 community dialogues in five provinces.

Kamaqhekeza community commit to turning dreams to reality

March, 4 2010 – A fight over a girl leads to one man being stabbed to death and the perpetrators hiding, because they anticipate the community’s response to the killing. Proving their fears, the community hunts them down, finding them as they’re about to hand themselves over at the police station, where they’ve fled to find refuge.

Community members start talking at the first Diepsloot community conversation

March 2, 2010 –The Nelson Mandela Foundation (NMF) held its first Diepsloot township community conversation, after the xenophobic violence that rocked the community in 2008.

Leandra community at a crossroads

February 25, 2010 – The small town of Leandra in Mpumalanga, South Africa, stands at a crossroads.

Communities come together in the spirit of humanity and equality

February 12, 2010 – The third community conversation event for Durban’s Albert Park community became a joint celebration of the rights of individuals, as it took place on the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. This was a timely event for the community, which, after going through a series of action-planning exercises, was looking to create a better future.

Community conversation focuses on reconciliation and nation building

February 12, 2010 – Yesterday, on the 20th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, the community of Walmer Bay township in Port Elizabeth convened at the Human Dignity Centre for its second community conversation.

Community conversations facilitators share their triumphs and challenges

February 9, 2010 – In the village of Khakhala, on the outskirts of Giyani in the Limpopo Province, getting people in the community to use the free condoms from the local clinic is not the problem.

Foundation shares Community Capacity Enhancement methodology

February 3, 2010 – Since 2008, the Nelson Mandela Foundation has been using the Community Capacity Enhancement (CCE) methodology as the basis for its community conversations and has trained a cadre of facilitators from the community in this methodology.

Nelson Mandela Foundation community conversations social cohesion booklet published

January 22, 2010 – In 2009 the Foundation, along with its operational partners, in accordance with its mandate to foster Nelson Mandela’s legacy of reconciliation, launched an initiative to advance social cohesion in a select number of South African communities.

Dialogue facilitators witness change on World AIDS Day

December 3, 2009 – On World AIDS Day, December 1, 2009, some of the facilitators who have been involved with the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s community conversations on HIV/AIDS went to Tshwane to witness the announcement of a significant and positive change in government’s HIV/AIDS policy in South Africa. 

Foundation recognised for its HIV/AIDS initiative

December 2, 2009 – In an article marking World AIDS Day, The AIDS war can be won, Times Live columnist Raenette Taljaard speaks of the impact of a Nelson Mandela Foundation HIV/AIDS community conversation she attended.

On World AIDS Day: starting where communities are

December 1, 2009 – As part of its ongoing work with communities throughout South Africa about the awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS, the Nelson Mandela Foundation convened 120 dialogues this year – 12 conversations in 10 communities in all nine provinces.

Albert Park moves into action

November 5, 2009 – “It’s only us who can really understand our challenges and come up with appropriate solutions. The time for talking is over. It’s now time for action.”