Nelson Mandela Foundation

Nelson Mandela Foundation publishes final 2010 community conversations booklet

14 June, 2011 –  In 2007, the Nelson Mandela Foundation launched the community conversations programme, with the aim of facilitating discussions around the “burning issues” that concerned communities across the country. HIV/AIDS is without doubt one of the most serious challenges the country faces today, and this became the focus of the community conversations programme.

Nelson Mandela Foundation publishes community conversations case studies

March 25, 2011 –  Following a successful pilot project by the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s dialogue division, it is proud to announce that case studies written by its head facilitators are now available on the website for download.

Nelson Mandela Foundation publishes booklet on social cohesion

January 10, 2011 – Following the outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa in 2008, the Nelson Mandela Foundation started a series of facilitated dialogues in those communities most affected, in an effort to build social cohesion and understanding between South Africans and foreign nationals. The Foundation has just released a book capturing this two-year-long process, its achievements and challenges.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation concludes community conversations on World AIDS Day

December 13, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation completed the third and final year of the HIV/AIDS community conversations programme with a series of World AIDS Day dialogues. This year the South African theme for World AIDS Day was “I am responsible. We are responsible. South Africa is taking responsibility,” and the Foundation commemorated the day by hosting community conversations in all nine provinces.

KwaMakhutha community commits to taking responsibility on World AIDS Day

December 3, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation Dialogue Programme hosted an HIV/AIDS community conversation in KwaMakhutha in KwaZulu-Natal to commemorate World AIDS Day.

Foundation commemorates World AIDS Day

November 30, 2010 – According to new research by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Sub-Saharan Africa has made immense progress in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

HIV/AIDS consultative forum ends on a high note

November 18, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation hosted a two-day consultative forum at Cedar Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Sandton this week to reflect on the two-year HIV/AIDS community conversations programme.

Assessing the impact of the HIV/AIDS community dialogues

November 17, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation hosted a two-day community dialogue on HIV/AIDS consultative forum at Cedar Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Johannesburg on November 15 and 16, 2010.

Community conversation identifies and addresses driver of HIV/AIDS

November 12, 2010 – Through the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s HIV/AIDS community conversations process, the people of KwaMakhutha in KwaZulu-Natal have identified a major problem leading to the spread of HIV/AIDS in their community.

Socio-economic issues continue to dominate community conversations

October 1, 2010 – During August 2010, a host of community conversations were held in 11 designated areas countrywide as part the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s dialogue initiative to raise community awareness and reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

Community builds house for orphans

September 17, 2010 – Three orphaned teenage girls have a roof over their heads after conversations facilitated by the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s dialogue team led the community of Giyani, in Limpopo, to build a four-room house for them.

“Dialogue for Social Change” interrogates the role of law and the media in responding to xenophobia

September 15, 2010 – The media’s portrayal of xenophobic attacks was one of the controversial issues discussed, together with questions around the role and the rule of law and justice, on the second day of the “Dialogue for Social Change” seminar, hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation at the Protea Hotel Parktonian.

Foundation wraps up social cohesion programme with seminar on dialogue for social change

September 15, 2010 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation hosted a two-day seminar to wrap up their two-year-long community conversation social cohesion pilot programme.

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.