Sharing Mandela's legacy with rural communities: Climate, Food and Solidarity

A trip to rural communities for a seminar on the legacy of Nelson Mandela, climate change and sustainable food systems

 

Hello Angola, hello world!

My name is Sofonie Dala, we are visiting rural communities to raise awareness about the work and the legacy of Nelson Mandela. 

Nelson Mandela International Day (or Mandela Day) is an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela's birthday. 

We are training children because they are the future of Tomorrow.

We used thi day as an opportunity to raise awareness about its vision to mark Nelson Mandela International Day by uniting the world in taking decisive action against global climate change that leads to food insecurity.

We want to see a hundred Mandela in the coming years. We want to inspire children, women and young people to lead in the spirit of Nelson Mandela. Mandela was a man with vision, integrity, perseverance, resilience, discipline, humility and huge value of public service. A leader lead not because he or she is the best but because he or she works to serve the community.

We want to create a model that can be replicated because the whole world needs leaders like Nelson Mandela, not only South Africa. We are actually looking for funding opportunities.

The theme for the tenth anniversary of Madiba’s passing is “The Legacy Lives on Through You”. The theme for this year’s Nelson Mandela International Day is “Climate, Food & Solidarity”. Our call to action is “It is in your hands”.

Poverty in the ghetto still exist

With recent inflation, it has become increasingly difficult for the poor to afford food. 

Climate change can disrupt food availability, reduce access to food, and affect food quality. For example, projected increases in temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity.

Therefore, We are promoting household farming and food security. 

The economy is the most pressing issue that we have right now in Angola and in the continent of Africa. Then, we need to focus on the key industries in order of to realize our road to economic independence. Economically, we are not an independent nation. Who is making our cereals? our suits? our bus? American, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, French companies. We need to grow our own food, have our own watchmakers, suit makers, carmakers, housebuilders in Africa. 

We need Africans companies. It is up to us to make sure that we become the principal beneficiaries of the development that is taking place in Africa, not the multinational corporations that exist.

How to overcome poverty in our communities?

Education of African youth is the only way to eradicate poverty. Giving money to the poor will not eradicate poverty.

Education is the key. It is the most powerful tool to change the world. This is how you break down prejudice. This is how you fuel dreams of young people.

Our goal is to be a catalyst and to empower African youth. It is unfair that some young people have no access to education.

In our communities thousands of people finish high school without touching a computer when kids in Japan and France use computer from the age of 4 years old. It creates a huge gap in society. So we try to give them tools.