“I knew Nelson Mandela” – Yase Godlo
In a telephonic interview with the Newcastle Advertiser, Mr Godlo said he's been with the foundation for 11 years. He knew Madiba personally and engaged with him on several occasions.
Yase Godlo has made a name for himself working as the manager of Mandela Day and outreach programmes at the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
In a telephonic interview with the Newcastle Advertiser, Mr Godlo said he’s been with the foundation for 11 years. He knew Madiba personally and engaged with him on several occasions.
“It’s been a great experience because I have been fortunate enough to be here when Mr Mandela was still quite active in his role as apartheid president,” he explained. “My fondest memory with Mandela was when I saw him at his house when he met the kids who came from the Eastern Cape. It was one of those moments that reminded me that Madiba was also a grandfather and a father.”
Mr Godlo recalled moments away from the limelight where Mandela was free to just be.
“There were times when the man was really just a man, even though he was also incredible.”
The theme of this year’s Mandela Day is directly in keeping with Millennium Development Goals.
“The theme has actually been an extension of last year, in that it has been quite popular,” he said. “Because the theme is motivated by millennium development goals, we thought to not divert too much from what has been the focus on education and literacy, shelter, food security and volunteerism.”
Mr Godlo, the glue that holds Mandela Day together, takes pride in getting involved in the community in his personal life, aspiring to be just like Tata one day.
“In my personal life, I’ve actually been involved with a couple of organisations.”
His positivity and willingness to lend a helping hand has certainly rubbed off on his friends, who now support various organisations too. The organisations they support focus primarily on education, development and upliftment.
“I totally enjoy doing it in my spare time, because once you’ve experienced Madiba as a human-being, and understand that in all, he has always believed in and led by three rules in life- free yourself, free others and serve every day.”
He knew being exposed to such greatness, and not at least attempting to emulate it would have been a missed opportunity.
Apart from the Trek4Mandela initiative, the foundation also hosts book drives and food security projects.
The foundation also donated 100 tablets to a school in Alexander, and provided assistance to organisations worldwide to ensure the spirit of Mandela is properly celebrated.
Today, it will make it’s presence known at the 67 Blankets campaign in Johannesburg.
“It’s a way for us as a foundation to give back.”
Mr Godlo said the foundation receives massive support internationally. The Department of International Relations and Corporation has assisted the foundation in mobilising the global community.
“There has been a lot of activity and feedback from a lot of countries on what they are doing for Mandela Day. We encourage people to donate to the cause of what we stand for. We stand for social justice.
The purpose of doing your bit on Mandela Day is to create awareness regarding pertinent issues within communities across the world.
“We are a unique voice that can carry Mandela’s legacy. I think South Africans must get involved, take action and inspire change in each and every way that they find necessary and possible. However small the act, they must get involved and make a difference,” concluded Mr Godlo.
For more information, visit www.mandeladay.com.
@NicoleNNadv
