The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust (NMCHT) celebrated the involvement of youth in building the NMCH through an exhibition that was hosted in partnership with Vega School of Brand Leadership on 5 December in Bordeaux.
Vuyo Lutseke, media and communications officer for the NMCHT, said that on the day that marked the second anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s passing, Vega School and the hospital trust (NMCHT) celebrated Madiba’s legacy by looking to the future. “We want to celebrate this day that Nelson Mandela left us and we are showcasing the work that the children from various schools have done in their efforts to fund raise for the hospital,” Lutseke said.
She pointed out that the hospital in Parktown was the first of its kind to be built solely on the generosity of the world’s citizens, including ordinary South Africans, global philanthropists, corporate institutions and even children themselves, as part of the For Kids by Kids initiative. “The hard work of NMCHT and compassion of all the donors, both locally and abroad, have thus far raised R780 million,” Lutseke explained.
She added that thus far there was a balance of R220 million that they still needed to raise as they expected that the 200-bed hospital would be completed at the end of next year.
Tresor Riziki, an artist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said that he was honoured to spend time with the children that were present as they were the future leaders.
“I am very happy to have become an ambassador and to contribute to the legacy of the great Nelson Mandela,” Riziki said.
Three of the former Vega School students, who were part of a team of students that designed the NMCHT logo in 2009, were present at the event. They said that they were happy that their logo was so widely accepted and that they could not wait for the hospital to open its doors next year.
“Even though we played a small part in the hospital we are humbled to have done something that will further the dream of Nelson Mandela,” Deeshana Chetty said.
