For this year’s Mandela Day project, on 17 July 2020, the GKIHS executive committee decided on something less elaborate, but still capable of having a great impact on those we partner with. That being said, simplicity and intimacy were the key points underpinning this year’s event. The chapter settled on a facility called Heaven’s Nest, a child care and recreation centre, located in Ottery. The institution was founded in 2004, and has since been serving as an emergency foster facility for orphaned children. The facility is a project that has been developed by the St Francis of Assisi Church in Strandfonteinand the Fikilela Aids Project.
In order to celebrate our youth and also give our members some advice on how to succeed in their careers and university lives, some of our alumni members joined our panel on a zoom webinar. Sharing their academic and professional journeys with us, Dambisa Dube, Monique Carels, Zola Mcaciso and Delphino Machikicho motivated our members and emphasised that no matter where you come from or what circumstances you endure, you can make a huge success of your future. This took place on the 13th of July and was truly inspiring and motivating.
The International Relations Office at the University of the Western Cape extends our well wishes to you during these uncertain and unprecedented times. Given the current global COVID-19 pandemic, we wish to extend our solidarity with our university partners – with compassion. The University has taken the necessary decision to postpone all inbound and outbound international travel and engagement until further notice.
However, we remain committed to our international partners, students and researchers, as well as to the broader society, to utilise our connectedness to offer intellectual contributions that seek to bring a measure of insightful scientific rigour and empathy to all those affected by the crisis. It is together, with unity of purpose and with our diversity and compassion, that we can continue to work with solidarity in service of humanity.
Additional information can be found on the UWC main site