Mandela’s values brought to life in children’s SDG book
Thando and Freddy’s Big SDG Adventure connects Nelson Mandela’s values to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The United Nations in South Africa, together with the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and the Graça Machel Trust, commemorated Nelson Mandela Day on July 18 by launching Thando and Freddy’s Big SDG Adventure: A Journey with Tata Madiba on Nelson Mandela in Saxonwold.
The book illustrates how Mandela’s principles connect with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to reduce poverty, protect the planet and promote peace.
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The SDGs are 17 goals that countries around the globe created to make life better for everyone by protecting our planet, improving health and education, reducing poverty, promoting peace and making sure no one is left behind.
Among the attendees were UN resident coordinator in SA Nelson Muffuh, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund Dr Linda Ncube-Nkomo, CEO of Graça Machel Trust Shipra Chisha, and Nelson Mandela Foundation Trustee Alice Brown.
Speaking at the launch, Steve Letsike, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, reflected on the book.
“Sipho comes to school without shoes and later sits alone because he has no lunch. His teacher responds with kindness and makes sure that he is not excluded or humiliated, which is ubuntu and what we should be expressing.”
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United Nations Children’s Fund representative in SA, Johannes Wedenig, said the book would help include children in SDG conversations.
“We talk a lot as adults and decision-makers, but children must get the necessary education around SDGs in a way they can understand and relate; otherwise, child participation will not be meaningful if children don’t participate.”
Young attendee, Tshedza Madima said that it was important for youth to attend such events because it was a day when young people could take charge and learn the lessons they could carry forward in the future.
The soft copy of the book is available on the UN SA website https://southafrica.un.org/en/318050-thando-and-freddys-big-adventure-nelson%C2%A0mandela
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